As communicated in the scientific journal Applied Catalysis B: Environmental on March 11, a team of researchers from Korea University (KU) made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of renewable energy sources. Led by Professor Lee In-hwan (Department of Materials Science and Engineering), a group of researchers from KU, Kongju University, and Bicocca University (Milan, Italy) developed a new photocatalyst to induce hydrogen production. The resulting material was able to achieve the highest hydrogen production rate in the world compared to similar prototypes.

Hydrogen is a promising fuel source that is environmentally friendly and does not directly cause carbon emissions. The innovation brought forward by Professor Lee belongs to a wider process called “light-to-hydrogen (LTH) conversion”, which employs photocatalysts to produce hydrogen in a cost-effective and efficient manner. KU’s revolutionary merit lies within the use of two-dimensional (2D) materials to create core-shell nanostructures, leading to a greater surface area available for more chemical reactions – that is, a more fruitful outcome.  As the European Union (EU) announced its intention to prohibit the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035, discoveries of this kind are becoming increasingly important to streamline the development of hydrogen-fueled vehicles and machines, ultimately making them more affordable.