abstract |
A system and method for splitting water to produce hydrogen and oxygen employing sunlight energy are disclosed. Hydrogen and oxygen may then be stored for later use as fuels. The system and method use inorganic capping agents that cap the surface of semiconductor nanocrystals to form photocatalytic capped colloidal nanocrystals, which may be deposited on a substrate and treated to form a photoactive material. The photoactive material may be employed in the system to harvest sunlight and produce energy necessary for water splitting. The system may also include elements necessary to collect, transfer and store hydrogen and oxygen, for subsequent transformation into electrical energy. |