Jodhpur: Researchers at Jodhpur-based Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur have developed lanthanides-based perovskite nanocomposite catalytic materials, which are helpful in producing more pure hydrogen through artificial photosynthesis. In this patented method, the researchers used sunlight to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen. It used a cheap, simple transition metal based recyclable catalyst. This will give a boost to hydrogen production.
This hydrogen will be useful in industry, automobile and energy sector. The team has developed a series of catalysts that will enable hydrogen production under ambient conditions. The practical benefits of this research will be available to industry, automobile and energy sectors. The chief examiner of the project is Dr. Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Jodhpur. According to Rakesh K Sharma, the practical benefits of this research will be available to the automobile and energy sectors.
The only future source of green and sustainable energy is hydrogen based energy. The technology developed by the IIT Jodhpur team will result in no need for any external energy source other than sunlight. Describing the importance of the research, Dr. Rakesh K Sharma, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Jodhpur, said that an indigenous sustainable catalyst has been developed for the production of green hydrogen. This is the new standard of innovation for the well-being of our next generation.
The research team developed five sets of catalysts after testing more than 100 catalyst combinations that promote greater hydrogen production in sunlight. These catalysts do their work with waste water, brackish water and brackish water. These are recyclable and can be used multiple times. IIT Jodhpur’s Dr. Kiran Shejle, Dr. Devika Laishram. The team of Dr. Bhagirath Saini (PhD student) and Dr. Krishnapriya (Postdoctoral Researcher) has developed a series of catalysts.
This will enable the production of hydrogen in normal environment. This process for producing pure hydrogen is simple and works successfully on a wide spectrum of sunlight. It does not require any energy source for the production of hydrogen. Hydrogen produced in this way being more cheap and pure will increase its use directly as a fuel in vehicles. As a result, pollution will also be less.
