Semiconductor particles are used as a photocatalyst for inducing a water-splitting reaction where water molecules decompose into oxygen molecules and hydrogen molecules by addition of a co-catalyst and light irradiation, the semiconductor particles including strontium titanate doped with scandium. A synthesis method of a semiconductor for the photocatalyst includes a synthesis step of synthesizing the semiconductor particles including strontium titanate doped with scandium by mixing strontium chloride (SrCl.sub.2), strontium titanate (SrTiO.sub.3), and scandium oxide (Sc.sub.2O.sub.3) and firing the mixture.

InGaN offers a route to high efficiency overall water splitting under one-step photo-excitation. Further, the chemical stability of metal-nitrides supports their use as an alternative photocatalyst. However, the efficiency of overall water splitting using InGaN and other visible light responsive photocatalysts has remained extremely low despite prior art work addressing optical absorption through band gap engineering. Within this prior art the detrimental effects of unbalanced charge carrier extraction/collection on the efficiency of the four electron-hole water splitting reaction have remained largely unaddressed. To address this growth processes are presented that allow for controlled adjustment and establishment of the appropriate Fermi level and/or band bending in order to allow the photochemical water splitting to proceed at high rate and high efficiency. Beneficially, establishing such material surface charge properties also reduces photo-corrosion and instability under harsh photocatalysis conditions.

An iterative approach to dynamic covalent polymerizations of elemental sulfur with functional comonomers to prepare sulfur prepolymers that can further react with other conventional, commercially available comonomers to prepare a wider class of functional sulfur polymers. This iterative method improves handling, miscibility and solubility of the elemental sulfur, and further enables tuning of the sulfur polymer composition. The sulfur polymers may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset for use in elastomers, resins, lubricants, coatings, antioxidants, cathode materials for electrochemical cells, and polymeric articles such as polymeric films and free-standing substrates.

Provided are a photocatalyst, a method for preparing the same, and a water splitting apparatus including the same. Without using an additional device, a photoelectrode with improved current density may be obtained through visible light absorption using the upconversion.

Methods for producing a carbon-free, PGM-free support for PGM catalyst. The catalytic material comprises PGM metals disposed on a carbon-free support which is catalytic but free of PGM.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for generating hydrogen from water and recycled soft metals (e.g., used empty aluminum beverage cans). The generated hydrogen can be used as an energy source, for example to power hydrogen fuel cell powered automobiles or to generate electricity for an electrical power grid. The apparatus has a size and weight allowing it to be used where the recycled metal cans are generated, and is suitable for use as a home appliance.

A system for obtaining power by the use of low-quality hydrocarbons and hydrogen produced from the water in the generation of combustion energy having: a combustion chamber; a nozzle support module located at the proximal extremity of the combustion chamber; at least one principal nozzle (S) and at least one start-up burner nozzle (P), a number of spark igniter electrodes (H) located in the nozzle support module; at least three hermetic chambers connected in series covering the length of a flame, where a vaporisation chamber, a gasification chamber and at least one thermal cracking chamber surround the combustion chamber; a flame outlet, located at the distal extremity of the combustion chamber.

The present disclosure provides for methods for designing and constructing metal/semiconductor heterostructures as catalysts for a wide range of applications such as oxygen activation. In a particular aspect, the present disclosure provides for the manipulation of atomic structures at MJ/TiO.sub.2 interface (e.g., Au/TiO.sub.2 interface) that significantly alters the interfacial electron distribution and prompts O.sub.2 activation. In an aspect, the present disclosure provides for a M/TiO.sub.2 composites (e.g., heterostructures) having a N defect-free M/TiO.sub.2 interface and method of making the M/TiO.sub.2 composites having a defect-free M/TiO.sub.2 interface. The M can be Au, Ag, Cu, Al, Pt, Ni, or Pd, for example.

A hydrogen release and storage system (100) of the present invention includes a first hydrogen release and storage unit (100A) composed of a first hydrogen compound member (101A), a first container (102A) that accommodates the first hydrogen compound member (101A), a first heating apparatus (103A) configured to heat an inside of the first container (102A), a first cooling apparatus (104A) configured to cool the inside of the first container (102A), a first water supply apparatus (105A) configured to supply water to the first container (102A), a second hydrogen release and storage unit (100B) composed of a second hydrogen compound member (101B), a second container (102B) that accommodates the second hydrogen compound member (101B), a second heating apparatus (103B) configured to heat an inside of the second container (102B), a second cooling apparatus (104B) configured to cool the inside of the second container (102B) and a second water supply apparatus (105B) configured to supply water to the second container (102B).

Embodiments provide novel devices, nanowires, apparatuses, artificial leaves, photoelectrodes and membranes for photochemical energy production and methods of fabricating the same. The devices, apparatuses, artificial leaves, photoelectrodes, and membranes are planar and are embedded with nanowires, including InGaN nanowires. The unique devices, artificial leaves, apparatuses photoelectrodes, and nanowire-embedded membranes provide a high degree of flexibility and incorporate a large amount of indium, making them valuable for use for hydrogen production from sunlight and water. Embodiments also provide flexible substrates combining water oxidation and hydrogen reduction in a seamless manner to enhance the overall efficiency of water splitting.