This Solar Cell That Splits Water Into Hydrogen and Oxygen Could Be The Cat's Meow.

[NNadir]

Photochemical conversion of solar energy involves endergonic reactions with light as their 6nergy source. The principles and advantages of chemical conversion of solar energy by using semiconductor materials have been extensively reviewed, e.g. by Manassen et al. <1>, Nozik <2>, Bolton <2> and Bard <4>. The photoelectrochemical splitting of water to hydrogen and oxygen on illuminated semiconductor materials has been a subject of considerable research effort during the last decade such as by Fujishima and Honda <5, 6>, Mavroides et al. <7>, Gerischer <8>, Nozik <9>, Bockris and Uosaki <10>, Mavroides <11>, Tomkiewicz and Fay <12>. There would, however, be great attraction in alternative systems of energy storage, such as by production of reduced carbon or nitrogen compounds. The system water-carbon dioxide-semiconductor could be such an alternative photosynthetic system, in which water and carbon dioxide are the reactants and the semiconductor is the device which, by absorption of light, provides the charges necessary for the redox process. The chief attraction of a direct conversion of carbon dioxide into an organic fuel by sunlight is to eliminate the costly intermediate steps of generating, separating and storing hydrogen.

The reduction products are easy to handle and represent no environmental hazard.

See that?

It's easy.

This paper dates from um, 1983, and is the work of three Isreali scientists. The reference is Solar Energy Materials 8 (1983) 425-440.

The Abstract of this breakthrough paper is here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B7571-4829VHV-67&_user=10&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F1983&_alid=1065345325&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=12885&_sort=r&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=9&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=43ccfe5a96cca5eb99277301c6bf141c">ELECTROCHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS ON THE PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF AQUEOUS CARBON DIOXIDE ON p- ALLIUM PHOSPHIDE AND p-GALLIUM ARSENIDE SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRODES

I am sure that there have been many solar breakthroughs in the last 26 years which accounts for how you came to have your solar hydrogen HYPErcar in your driveway.