Researchers use solar radiation to successfully separate oxygen and hydrogen in water

In the plant world, photosynthesis uses sunlight to create the food on which plants depend. Now Jose L. Mendoza-Cortes, an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Florida State University, uses synthetic materials to use sunlight to simulate plant photosynthesis and successfully separate hydrogen and oxygen from water. Jose L. Mendoza-Cortes discovered this phenomenon when studying water-sodium-manganese materials. This material is also known as manganese oxide.

The material has a multi-layered structure, and when it is processed into a single-layer structure, it can capture solar energy at a very fast speed while changing water into hydrogen and oxygen, wherein hydrogen can be used for fuel cells for residential and Car power,

This finding is theoretically self-sustaining and green. The entire process does not produce carbon dioxide or other waste. Scientists believe that the material can be used for home energy. The relevant equipment is installed on the roof to generate hydrogen gas for heating or other purposes. It is not yet clear when this material and process can be commercialized.