India’s Solar Leap: Green Hydrogen through Next-Generation Solar Water Splitting Technology

PWOnlyIAS

June 23, 2025

India’s Solar Leap: Green Hydrogen through Next-Generation Solar Water Splitting Technology

Indian researchers from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, have developed a scalable solar-driven device that generates green hydrogen using only sunlight and water. 

About the New Device

It is a photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting system that utilizes:

Green Hydrogen

  • A silicon-based photoanode with a n-i-p heterojunction architecture, made up of:
    • n-type TiO₂
    • intrinsic Si
    • p-type NiO
  • Key Features:
    • Enhances charge separation and transport efficiency.
    • Employs magnetron sputtering—a scalable and industry-ready thin-film deposition technique.
    • Optimized for large-scale production and solar-to-hydrogen conversion.

Significance

  • Cost-effective: Uses abundant and non-toxic materials.
  • Scalable: Magnetron sputtering allows for mass production.
  • Efficient:
    • Surface photovoltage: 600 mV
    • Low onset potential: ~0.11 VRHE
  • Stable: Maintains performance with only 4% degradation after 10 hours in alkaline conditions.
  • Large-scale viability: 25 cm² photoanode demonstrates scalability.
  • Self-sustained: Operates using only solar energy, without dependence on external electricity.

Strategic Importance for India

  • Supports National Hydrogen Mission launched in 2021
  • Advances India’s progress toward net-zero emissions by 2070.
  • Aligns with India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement
  • Potential to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production and export

PWOnlyIAS ExtraEdge: About Green Hydrogen

  • Definition: Hydrogen produced through electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind).

Advantages

  1. Zero carbon emissions-cleanest form of hydrogen.
  2. Decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like steel, cement, chemicals.
  3. Enables long-term energy storage and grid balancing.
  4. Fuel for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
  5. Reduces dependence on fossil fuel imports – enhancing energy security.

Additional Reading: Green Hydrogen in India: A Comprehensive Roadmap for Adoption, Challenges & Initiatives

To get PDF version, Please click on "Print PDF" button.

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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