The Foundation for Research Technology (FORTH) of Crete has discovered new materials for the creation of "solar fuels". In a related announcement, FORTH explained that "the methods of electrochemical photolysis (ECP) of water (H2O) on the one hand and photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) on the other hand are two of the most promising techniques for the production of clean fuels using solar energy.".
And that "in a series of recent publications, Dr. Antonis Andriotis (of the Institute of Nuclear Physics/FORTH) in collaboration with Professor Madhu Menon (of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY, USA) predicted that the enrichment of the material GaN [gallium nitride (Ga)] with antimony (Sb) impurities allows the manipulation of the width of its energy gap.".
Mr. Andriotis himself explained to us that "by the term solar fuels we refer to fuels produced using solar energy. Classic examples are the production of hydrogen and carbon dioxide reduction derivatives (e.g. methane).".
Dr. Antonis Andriotis Dr. Antonis Andriotis He himself pointed out:
"My research is theoretical, with my main tool being the computer. My research focuses on the part of this research that concerns the production of hydrogen through the photo-electrochemical splitting of water. In particular, it concerns research to identify materials that can be used for this purpose. As I mention in the press release, materials that can be used for the electrochemical splitting of water must have certain properties. However, materials with such properties are rare in nature. We have to make them, synthesize them.
Research in this field therefore focuses on finding such (technically created) materials that satisfy the necessary conditions. This can be done, of course, in the laboratory where experiments can be carried out and new material compositions can be tested using the “trial and error” method. However, this experimental process is time-consuming, uneconomical and limited to a small number of compositions.
On the other hand, theoretical research contributes in this direction since it can "synthesize" an unlimited number of new materials and identify materials with the properties we want in a fast and economical way. This is done with various theoretical calculation models using computers.
In this way, we can examine a multitude of possible new systems quickly and at minimal cost. Thus, the experimental identification of potentially suitable materials is minimized. Simply, if the theoretical calculations have clear indications of a new material that they have identified and that may be suitable for this process, then it is up to the experimental team to confirm or not the theoretical conclusions. This was also done in our case, as stated in the press release.
"After experimental confirmation of the suitability of the material we predicted, this material is suitable for commercial exploitation in order to be used as a material for photoelectrochemical elements for the photolytic decomposition (electrolysis) of water.".
