Novel material shows potential to produce green hydrogen

An article published in the journal Polymer describes the production of a material with the potential to be used to obtain hydrogen (H₂) by solar-driven water splitting (photoelectrocatalysis) instead of the conventional electricity-driven process. 

Also known as green hydrogen, H₂ produced from renewable sources is a strong candidate for the accolade “fuel of the future”. 

The article describes the preparation of films comprising polyaniline nanostructures with an underlayer of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and their promising photoelectrocatalysis performance, especially in H₂ production, which requires good light absorption and enhanced stability, among other characteristics. 

Polyaniline is an organic semiconductor belonging to the flexible polymer family. Although it was discovered over 150 years ago, it has only recently caught the attention of the scientific community owing to its high electrical conductivity. 

The research involved groups at the Center for Development of Functional Materials (CDMF), a Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (RIDC) established by FAPESP and hosted by the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar); and the Center for Innovation in New Energies (CINE), an Engineering Research Center (ERC) supported by FAPESP and Shell.

About São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe.