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Floatable photocatalytic hydrogel nanocomposites for large-scale solar hydrogen production
Abstract
Storing solar energy in chemical bonds aided by heterogeneous photocatalysis is desirable for sustainable energy conversion. Despite recent progress in designing highly active photocatalysts, inefficient solar energy and mass transfer, the instability of catalysts and reverse reactions impede their practical large-scale applications. Here we tackle these challenges by designing a floatable photocatalytic platform constructed from porous elastomer-hydrogel nanocomposites. The nanocomposites at the air-water interface feature efficient light delivery, facile supply of water and instantaneous gas separation. Consequently, a high hydrogen evolution rate of 163 mmol h-1 m-2 can be achieved using Pt/TiO 2 cryoaerogel, even without forced convection. When fabricated in an area of 1 m 2 and incorporated with economically feasible single-atom Cu/TiO 2 photocatalysts, the nanocomposites produce 79.2 ml of hydrogen per day under natural sunlight. Furthermore, long-term stable hydrogen production in seawater and highly turbid water and photoreforming of polyethylene terephthalate demonstrate the potential of the nanocomposites as a commercially viable photocatalytic system.
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In the citing paper
“This enhancement is attributed to the initial establishment of thermal equilibrium and directional water transport, followed by sustained heat localization and efficient mass transfer, as reported in related studies. 63”
From Gradient-structured directional porous floatable aerogels for effective solar-driven hydrogen production and steam generation (2025) · cites this paper as [63]
In the citing paper
“although it remains slightly lower than the most recent advanced designs (163 mmol m 2 h 1 ). 63”
From Gradient-structured directional porous floatable aerogels for effective solar-driven hydrogen production and steam generation (2025) · cites this paper as [63]
In the citing paper
“Lee et al. [245] have addressed these challenges by presenting a floatable photocatalytic platform using a porous elastomer-hydrogel nanocomposite (Figure 8k).”
From Advances in Blue Energy Fuels: Harvesting Energy from Ocean for Self‐Powered Electrolysis (2025) · cites this paper as [245]
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, a 1-m 2 -scale array of nanocomposites can produce 79.2 mL of H 2 per day under natural sunlight irradiation with an average intensity of 0.732 kW m -2 (Figure 8o).”
From Advances in Blue Energy Fuels: Harvesting Energy from Ocean for Self‐Powered Electrolysis (2025) · cites this paper as [245]
In the citing paper
“Moreover, under highly turbid water conditions mimicking natural environments, the sunken photocatalysts exhibit a significantly lower H 2 production rate than the floatable nanocomposites due to light attenuation (Figure 8m,n).”
From Advances in Blue Energy Fuels: Harvesting Energy from Ocean for Self‐Powered Electrolysis (2025) · cites this paper as [245]
In the citing paper
“Scaling up the floating photocatalytic nanocomposites to a practical application (11.5 × 11.5 cm) demonstrates the scalable production of H 2 , achieving an H 2 evolution rate of 0.504 L h -1 m -2 (11.3 mmol h -1 m -2 ) under 1-sun intensity conditions.”
From Advances in Blue Energy Fuels: Harvesting Energy from Ocean for Self‐Powered Electrolysis (2025) · cites this paper as [245]
In the citing paper
“The floatable nanocomposites show a twofold increase in the H 2 evolution rate (163 mmol h -1 m -2 ) compared to the sunken nanocomposites (77.2 mmol h -1 m -2 ).”
From Advances in Blue Energy Fuels: Harvesting Energy from Ocean for Self‐Powered Electrolysis (2025) · cites this paper as [245]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Lee, W. H., Lee, C. W., Cha, G. D., Lee, B.-H., Jeong, J. H., Park, H., Heo, J., Bootharaju, M. S., Sunwoo, S.-H., Kim, J. H., Ahn, K. H., Kim, D.-H., & Hyeon, T.
- Affiliations
- Seoul National University (KR)
- Institute for Basic Science (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Kim, Dae-Hyeong
- Hyeon, Taeghwan
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature Nanotechnology
- Published
- 2023-04-27
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 754-762
- ISSN
- 1748-3387 (ISSN-L)
- 1748-3395
- OpenAlex
- W4367176438
- Cited by
- 394
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 88 · 2025: 147 · 2024: 135 · 2023: 24
- FWCI
- 18.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature Nanotechnology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Seoul National University Open Repository (Seoul National University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Institute for Basic Science
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods
- Keywords
- photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, solar hydrogen production, nanocomposite hydrogels, porous elastomers, air-water interface, hydrogen evolution reaction, gas separation, seawater hydrogen production, water turbidity, catalyst stability
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