#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. At the Krasnoyarsk scientific center of the SB RAS, new photonic crystal structures have been developed that increase the efficiency of photoinduced water splitting. The titanium oxide used by specialists is stable, non-toxic and quite cheap, and the structures obtained by scientists can be used to find new methods for producing pure hydrogen using solar energy.
Photoelectrochemical decomposition of water is based on the properties of semiconductor photoelectrodes to absorb solar energy and split water into hydrogen and oxygen, which makes it possible to obtain fairly cheap, environmentally friendly hydrogen fuel.
Hydrogen is the fuel of the future; hydrogen engines are silent, efficient and environmentally friendly. However, it all comes down to the cost of producing hydrogen fuel and the safety of this production. Photoelectrochemical water decomposition promises to solve both of these problems.
“Titanium oxide is chemically stable and resistant to corrosion, which ensures its durability during operation. This material is non-toxic and low cost. Thus, titanium oxide has unique properties that make it one of the most promising photocatalysts for the photoelectrochemical decomposition of water”, says Nikolay Zosko, graduate student, junior researcher at the Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology SB RAS, as quoted by Scientific Russia.
Previously, we told that Siberian Federal University learned to extract gold and antimony using bacteria. We also reported that This IS Taimyr’s Russian-speaking version – the Severny Gorod news portal – is among the eight best regional media in the country.
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Text: Alexander Kalashnikov, Photo: Nikolay Shchipko
