A team from the Nanoparticle Research Center of the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea, in collaboration with Seoul National University, has unveiled a floating photocatalytic system system that uses sunlight to produce hydrogen from PET bottles. The key is to encapsulate the catalyst in a hydrogel that allows the system to operate stably on the surface of water.
Hydrogen production from plastic with sun and water
The system is able to break down plastic into by-products such as ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, while releasing hydrogen. This technology, in addition to taking advantage of waste materials, works under real conditions, including salt and flowing water. Its floating structure at the air-water interface prevents catalyst deactivation, allowing prolonged operation even in alkaline environments.
In outdoor tests with a one-square-meter device, hydrogen was generated from dissolved plastic bottles under direct sunlight. Simulations show that scaling this technology to 10 or 100 square meters is feasible and economically competitive, opening the door to commercial applications.
According to the researchers, this innovation can be integrated into circular economy strategies, simultaneously solving two problems such as plastic pollution and the need for emission-free energy.. With this system, green hydrogen could cease to be a distant promise and become an applicable and scalable solution.
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Source and photo: Nanoparticle Research Center of the Institute for Basic Sciences via Eurekalert
