Oregon State University researchers develop catalyst for hydrogen production from water

Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new light-activated material capable of producing hydrogen from water. ScienceDaily Chemistry reported that the team was led by Kyriakos Stylianou of the OSU College of Science. [1]

The photocatalyst utilizes an unusual sulfur-based chemistry to produce hydrogen efficiently when exposed to light. According to ScienceDaily Chemistry, the process operates without requiring an additional expensive metal catalyst, which could offer a cheaper and more practical method to convert solar energy into fuel. [1]

Extracting chemical energy from water alone without an external energy input is inconsistent with the laws of physics. Devices claiming to power vehicles using water alone without added energy have historically been identified as pseudoscience. [2]

Researchers state that the sulfur-based material could point toward future design strategies for solar-driven clean fuel production systems. [1]