National News: At a time when the world is battling climate change and energy insecurity, India has emerged as a beacon of innovation. A team of scientists based in Bengaluru has developed a cutting-edge device that uses solar power to extract hydrogen from water—offering a clean, affordable, and sustainable energy alternative. This is not just a technical milestone but a major leap in India's mission to achieve energy self-reliance.
What is Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen is one of the cleanest fuels known today. It is produced by splitting water molecules using renewable energy sources—and unlike conventional hydrogen production methods, it releases no carbon dioxide. It has enormous potential for powering vehicles, running industries, and storing renewable energy. However, the high cost of production has been a major barrier, one that this Indian breakthrough has now begun to overcome.
How Does the Device Work?
The device uses solar energy to trigger electrolysis—a process that splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. What sets this device apart is that it doesn’t rely on fossil fuels, and it uses materials that are abundantly available on Earth. It has been designed to operate continuously for more than 10 hours under alkaline conditions, with only minimal efficiency loss. This level of long-term stability is rare in silicon-based photoelectrochemical systems.
From Lab Innovation to Real-World Application
Developed by scientists at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, the device is built using scalable, low-cost techniques such as magnetron sputtering. The researchers used a specially designed 25-centimeter square photoanode, which demonstrated excellent hydrogen generation performance—proving that the system is ready to transition from laboratory experiments to industrial-scale applications.
A Giant Leap Towards Energy Independence
Led by Dr. Ashutosh K. Singh, the research team believes that this innovation will play a crucial role in helping India reach its net-zero carbon emission goal by 2070. By combining smart materials with a layered heterostructure architecture, they’ve created a system that not only increases performance but is also suitable for mass adoption. Their work has been published in the prestigious Journal of Materials Chemistry A.
A Fusion of Science, Sustainability, and Vision
This invention represents more than just scientific excellence—it reflects India’s deep commitment to sustainability and innovation. At a time when the world faces an energy crisis, India is showing the way forward by developing local, affordable, and clean technologies. This solar-powered hydrogen system could power everything from homes to factories, moving us closer to a future fueled entirely by the sun.
