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NREL, Berkeley Lab propose efficiency and stability best-practices for solar water-splitting

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Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting, which relies on sunlight to split water into oxygen and hydrogen, stands out as potentially one of the most sustainable routes to clean energy. PEC water-splitting was first noted in scientific publications in 1972. NREL set the first record for STH efficiency exceeding 10% (12.4%

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UNSW Sydney team develops inexpensive water-splitting catalyst using 2D MOF framework array

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UNSW Sydney chemists have fabricated a new, inexpensive catalyst for water splitting based on an ultrathin nanosheet array of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on different substrates. Unexpectedly, the integrated MOF electrodes demonstrate superior performances towards OER, HER and overall water splitting. —Duan et al.

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NREL researchers capture excess photon energy to produce solar fuels; higher efficiency water-splitting for H2

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The advancement could significantly boost the production of hydrogen from sunlight by using the cell to split water at a higher efficiency and lower cost than current photoelectrochemical approaches. The research is outlined in a paper in Nature Energy. Crisp, Jing Gu, Boris D. Chernomordik, Gregory F. Pach, Ashley R. Marshall, John A.

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Tsinghua, MIT, Argonne team discovers lithium titanate hydrates for superfast, stable cycling in Li-ion batteries

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Producing nanostructured materials on the Li 2 O–TiO 2 composition line often requires water-based synthesis such as hydrothermal or sol-gel approaches, and thus one often deals with reaction intermediates that contain water (lithium titanate hydrates, LTHs) in the Li 2 O–TiO 2 –H 2 O ternary composition space. —Wang et al.

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GE Aviation completes initial design of supersonic engine for Aerion AS2

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It is designed to enable efficient supersonic flight over water and efficient subsonic flight over land, without requiring modifications to existing compliance regulations. The next design review is targeted for 2020, signaling the beginning of detailed design and test article production.

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NREL shows graded catalytic-protective layer boosts longevity of high-efficiency photocathodes for renewable hydrogen

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Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a method which boosts the longevity of high-efficiency photocathodes in photoelectrochemical water-splitting devices. A PEC cell absorbs sunlight and converts that energy into hydrogen and oxygen by splitting water molecules.

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NREL sets new world efficiency record for solar hydrogen production: 16.2%

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Scientists at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recaptured the record for highest efficiency in solar hydrogen production via a photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting process. Structure of an IMM photocathode configured for water splitting with TEM cross-section of the active layers.

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