HyperSolar plans to build 1ft2 prototypes with demonstrable solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 10% or higher, as it looks to produce renewable hydrogen fuel in commercial systems.
The company has developed wet-chemical synthetic routes for manufacturing solar hydrogen production cells. The manufacture of such cells is expected to be simple and cost effective.
HyperSolar, the developer of a technology to produce renewable hydrogen using sunlight and any source of water, has highlighted the progress it has made so far this year.
Besides, it has developed a proprietary coating, which is manufactured by using inexpensive earth abundant materials, to protect the solar cells from corrosion during the hydrogen generation process.
During the demonstration, the coating proved to be stable in hydrogen production using sunlight and seawater as the feedstock.
HyperSolar CEO Tim Young said: "The milestones achieved over the last few months have been integral to demonstrating a fully capable renewable hydrogen production technology that represents a potential solution for the hydrogen fuel cell market.
"While we still have critical areas of development to address, we believe the advancements of our productions cells, catalysts, and coating materials provide a foundation for consistent advancement. We anticipate continuing to scale this technology by providing a prototype that clearly shows that our path to market for real world systems is viable."
The company has also developed a low cost photocatalyst made of tin, cobalt and sulfur, which will replace conventional expensive platinum based catalysts.
HyperSolar’s research is focused on developing a low-cost and submersible hydrogen production particle that can split water molecules under the sun, emulating the core functions of photosynthesis.
Earlier this year, it extended its sponsored research agreement with the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) through 30 June 2016 to improve renewable hydrogen producing technology as the demand for hydrogen fuel grows.