Year : 2020
Mentors : Sanjay Patel, Leena Bora
Students involved : Dhananjay Dileep (16BCH013), Deep Patel (16BCH043)
Project : Link
Abstract: The concept of ‘artificial leaf’ employs the photocatalytic splitting of water. The idea is to utilize energy from the solar spectrum and use it to oxidize water to oxygen and Hydrogen. If this is connected to a fuel cell it reverts chemical energy to electrical energy, and a closed-loop energy circuit can be designed. Conventional approaches have used the solar spectrum to generate electricity and then use it for other applications. Still, one must bear in mind that each conversion of energy is entailed with a lot of losses. The aim of this project is to successfully create a solar cell capable of splitting water into clean fuel and combustion supporters (hydrogen and oxygen). This provides an alternative to fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources of energy.