Sunlight to Fuel Cells: India’s Breakthrough in Green Hydrogen Tech

India took a giant leap towards a clean energy future by unveiling a revolutionary solar-powered system that produces green hydrogen by splitting water molecules—without the use of fossil fuels or rare earth materials.

Major Events

1. Researchers at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, under the Department of Science and Technology, have made a scalable next-generation device that operates on solar power and earth-abundant materials to produce green hydrogen.

2. The innovation targets a silicon-based photoanode built through enhanced n-i-p heterojunction architecture. It is composed of n-type TiO₂, intrinsic silicon, and p-type NiO layers, which together enhance light absorption, charge separation, and efficiency of charge transport.

3. It was made with magnetron sputtering—a scalable, industry-capable method—that provided accuracy and affordability.

Performance Highlights

1. Exhibited a surface photovoltage of 600 mV and low onset potential of 0.11 V RHE, indicating high solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency.

2. Demonstrated long-term stability by operating for over 10 hours non-stop under alkaline conditions with minimal loss of only 4 percent of performance.

3. Successfully upscaled to a 25 cm² photoanode, demonstrating its applicability for industrial deployment.

Why It Matters

This technology can revolutionize India's hydrogen economy by providing decentralized, solar-powered hydrogen systems for residential, industrial, and transportation sectors. It aligns with the country's National Green Hydrogen Mission as well as global net-zero ambitions.

Sources: IBTimes, Orissa Diary, Mathrubhumi, Daijiworld, DST India, Economic Times Government, Insights on India.