Executive Summary : | Green hydrogen is a significant energy source, potentially accounting for 42% of power demand by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). China aims to meet 20% of its total energy demand with green hydrogen, aiming to become self-reliant by 2060 while being carbon neutral. Countries like the EU, US, UK, Japan, and South Korea are heavily investing in green hydrogen alternatives. India, with its vibrant demography and potential for green hydrogen production at a low cost, is well-positioned to capitalize on this market. To gain a geopolitical advantage and capture the green hydrogen market, investing in technological advancements in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is the only solution. PEC cells, similar to photovoltaic (PV) cells, can be easily extended to PEC cells to accelerate technology transfer. To improve the efficiencies of PEC cells, three key areas need immediate attention: improving visible light absorption, lowering hydrogen generation costs, and extending cell durability and longevity with more robust protective surface coatings. The proposed project aims to address these issues by using TiO2, a low-cost, non-toxic catalyst, and addressing its drawbacks like wide band gap and fast recombination rate. This will be achieved through nanoarchitecture of TiO2, combined doping and sensitization with compatible visible light sensitizers. The project combines nanoarchitecturing of TiO2, band gap engineering through doping, heterostructuring through sensitization, and surface passivation to realize synergistic improvements in water splitting performance. |