Efficient photocatalytic green hydrogen production using crystalline elemental Boron nanostructures under visible light

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2024-02, Vol.56, p.338-347
• Main Authors: Majji, Manikanta, Abzal, SM, Jacob, Noah, Maiti, Paramita, Choppella, Sairathna, Ravva, Mahesh Kumar, Maram, Pardha Saradhi, Ghosh, Siddhartha, Dash, Jatis Kumar, Motapothula, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boron nanostructures; Green Hydrogen; Hydrogen evolution; Photo catalysis
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.12.113

Green Hydrogen emerges as a promising energy solution in the quest for achieving Net Zero goals. The application of particulate semiconductors in photocatalytic water splitting introduces a potentially scalable and economically viable technology for converting solar energy into hydrogen. Overcoming the challenge of efficiently transferring photoelectrons and photoholes for both reduction and oxidation on the same catalyst is a significant hurdle in photocatalysis. In this context, we introduce highly efficient crystalline elemental boron nanostructures as photocatalysts, employing a straightforward and scalable synthesis method yield green hydrogen production without the need for additional co-catalysts or sacrificial agents. The resulting photocatalyst demonstrates stability and high activity in H2 production, achieving over 1 % solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency (>15,000 μmol. g−1.h−1) during continuous 12-h illumination. This efficiency is credited to broad optical absorption and the crystalline nature of boron nanostructures, paving the way for potential scale-up of reactors using crystalline boron photocatalysts. [Display omitted] •Inexpensive, scalable, and novel synthesis process for Non-metallic single element catalysts.•Wide range optical absorption (UV–Vis–NIR). The H2 production was achieved by only illuminating visible and NIR regions of light.•The H2 production efficiency is more than 15,000 μM/gm/hr.•The high yield of H2 production was achieved without the aid of co-catalysts and sacrificial reagents.•Long term stable performance H2 production over 72 h is reported.