The present invention relates to a method and device for producing hydrogen by dissociating the water molecule through thermochemical reactions, using a small amount of active material. The thermochemical reactions are induced by solar energy with a moderate concentration of up to 50 suns, which can be achieved through linear or parabolic concentrators.

Disclosed isthe synthesis of novel supported metal catalytic materials for electromagnetic radiation absorption and chemical catalysis especially in the presence of plasma used in the conversion of nitrogen from air and hydrogen from water to useful products such as nitric acid, hydrogen, ammonia and fertilizers. These materials can also generate plasma when subjected to microwave irradiation thus form the basis of catalytic plasma reactors. They can be used in chemical looping reactions because plasma generation under microwave irradiation in air results in the reduction of catalyst oxides and oxidation of nitrogen.

A hydrogen production method includes the heating of a catalyst in a furnace under reducing conditions to a first temperature, exposing the catalyst to water at a second temperature, and forming oxygen and hydrogen by thermolysis of the water, where the catalyst may include a barium niobate-based perovskite structure having the chemical formula of Ba.sub.1x(AE).sub.xNb.sub.1(y+z)(AE).sub.yM.sub.zO.sub.3 wherein AE is an alkaline earth (AE) element and M is a metal. M may include a transition metal or a rare earth metal. AE may include Mg, Ca, Sr, or a combination thereof. AE may alternatively include K, Rb, Cs or a combination thereof. M may include Fe, Co, Ni, Y, Yb, W, Ta, Pr, or a combination thereof. M may include Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Zr, Mo, La, Ce, Sm, Gd, W or a combination thereof.