Hydrogels utilize sunlight for sustainable hydrogen production

Hydrogels utilize sunlight for sustainable hydrogen production

by Riko Seibo

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Nov 07, 2024

Scientists have long sought to replicate how plants transform sunlight into energy, aiming to develop renewable energy alternatives through artificial photosynthesis. This process involves using sunlight to power chemical reactions that yield clean energy. Yet, engineering synthetic systems that emulate natural photosynthesis has remained an elusive goal.

Now, researchers from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) and the University of Tokyo have introduced a bioinspired hydrogel capable of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using sunlight. This innovation marks significant progress in clean energy research, with hydrogen recognized as a promising fuel source for the future. Unlike existing methods such as solar photovoltaics and electrolysis that require external energy, this hydrogel system harnesses sunlight directly for water splitting, potentially boosting efficiency and reducing costs. The findings were recently published in ‘Chemical Communications’.

The team, led by Associate Professor Kosuke Okeyoshi, doctoral student Reina Hagiwara at JAIST, and Professor Ryo Yoshida at the University of Tokyo, designed hydrogels with specialized polymer networks that facilitate electron transfer, a critical component in splitting water. The hydrogels incorporate functional molecules, such as ruthenium complexes and platinum nanoparticles, which work collectively to mimic photosynthesis.

“The biggest challenge was figuring out how to arrange these molecules so they could transfer electrons smoothly,” said Prof. Okeyoshi. “By using a polymer network, we were able to prevent them from clumping together, which is a common issue in synthetic photosynthesis systems.”

First-author and Ph.D. student Reina Hagiwara highlighted, “What’s unique here is how the molecules are organized within the hydrogel. By creating a structured environment, we’ve made the energy conversion process much more efficient.”

A significant achievement of this research is the hydrogels’ ability to prevent the aggregation of functional molecules, a longstanding problem in artificial photosynthesis systems. This improvement led to enhanced hydrogen production, surpassing the performance of previous methods.

This development holds potential for transforming clean energy production. Producing hydrogen using only water and sunlight could pave the way for a sustainable energy future, replacing fossil fuels. “Hydrogen is a fantastic energy source because it is clean and renewable. Our hydrogels offer a way to produce hydrogen using sunlight, which could help sustainably reshape energy technologies,” said Prof. Okeyoshi.

While these findings are promising, the researchers acknowledge further work is needed. Scaling up hydrogel production and ensuring long-term stability are the next steps. “We have shown the potential, but now we need to refine the technology for industrial use,” Prof. Okeyoshi added. “The possibilities are exciting, and we’re eager to continue pushing forward.”

Future efforts will also focus on enhancing the hydrogels’ design to optimize energy conversion efficiency further. The team’s dedication to advancing renewable energy solutions remains steadfast.

Research Report:Bioinspired hydrogels: polymeric designs towards artificial photosynthesis