Researchers from Ulm and Jena in the DFG Collaborative Research Center TRR 234, CataLight, have developed a novel polymer system that can store solar energy and release it later as hydrogen on demand. The water-soluble copolymer contains viologen units that capture and store electrons generated by sunlight. When the solution is later acidified and combined with a suitable catalyst, the stored energy can be utilized for hydrogen production.
In experiments, the system converted up to 72% of the stored energy into hydrogen using platinum nanoparticles as a catalyst. The process can be repeated by neutralizing the solution, allowing the polymer to recharge with sunlight. While the concept is still at the laboratory stage and requires further development for large-scale applications, it demonstrates a promising strategy to decouple renewable energy generation from hydrogen production, which could be valuable for industries requiring continuous energy supply.
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