KIMM team develops solar hydrogen production tech

By simplifying previously complex multi-step processes, this advance is expected to accelerate the commercialisation of solar-powered hydrogen production technologies.

The research team led by Dr. Jihye Lee, a principal researcher, head of the Nano-lithography & Manufacturing Research Center at KIMM, has developed a technique to enhance the productivity of BiVO₄ (bismuth vanadate) photoelectrodes. BiVO₄ is a metal oxide recognised as a key material for solar water electrolysis  systems due to its high light absorption and solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency.

Previously, BiVO₄ precursor solutions could only be prepared at concentrations up to 100mM. This limitation necessitated over eight repetitions of spin-coating and heat-treatment steps to form high-performance thin films, which slowed the process and increased material consumption, resulting in low productivity.

MORE FROM ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

To overcome these limitations, the research team developed a high-concentration BiVO₄ precursor solution by mixing acetylacetone, acetic acid, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). With this new solution, a one-step spin coating is sufficient to produce uniform and high-performance BiVO₄ thin films, improving overall productivity by approximately 5.9 times.