Ohio State researchers develop a single-molecule capable of capturing the full spectrum of visible light, enhancing the hydrogen production yield

In Ohio, researchers from The Ohio State University have developed a single molecule that is capable of collecting energy from the entire visible spectrum of sunlight, allowing the molecule to harness 50% more solar energy than current solar cells. When the researchers shined a LED light on an acid solution containing their molecule, the result was the production of hydrogen. Previous attempts to perform a similar stepwise solution to hydrogen production relied on catalysts that are built from two or more molecules, which exchange electrons but energy is lost in the exchange, thereby making the process less efficient. The researcher’s ability to use just one molecule— made from rhodium— limited the number of opportunities for energy loss and therefore boosted efficiency. With this comes a new method to transform sunlight quickly and efficiently into hydrogen. 

Category: R&D