Artistic depiction of two-photon water splitting at a ruthenium complex

Research

Research in the Water Splitting Group

Artistic depiction of two-photon water splitting at a ruthenium complex

Illustration: Hassan A. Tahini

Overview

Artistic depiction of the sun and water
Image: Hrishi Olickel

The research in our group focuses on the development of applicable photocatalysts for green hydrogen production.

Green hydrogen will be a crucial component of the energy transition. A promising route for its production is the direct splitting of water using sunlight, mediated by a photocatalyst. However, we currently lack suitable photocatalysts which could enable this process at scale.

Therefore, we investigate novel mechanisms for light driven water splitting, apply this knowledge for the development of photocatalysts and we perform techno-economic and life-cycle assessment of hydrogen production to identify quantitative targets for catalyst development.

Graphic: Jacob Schneidewind

Non-classical mechanisms for water splittingExternal link Using molecular model systems, novel mechanisms for light-driven water splitting are investigated, which could increase catalytic efficiency and/or activity. For this, organometallic, kinetic, spectroscopic and computational methods are combined.
Image: Jacob Schneidewind

Development of novel photocatalysts Based on the mechanistic insight, homogeneous as well as polymer photocatalysts are developed. For this, combinatorial synthesis methods are combined with catalyst design guided by machine learning.
Graphic: Jacob Schneidewind

Techno-economic/life-cycle studies and production conceptsExternal link Routes for hydrogen production are assessed using techno-economic and life-cycle studies to derive quantitative targets for catalyst development. Additionally, processes for green hydrogen production are developed and tested.