Artificial Photosynthesis for Green Hydrogen

Additionally, photosynthesis outputs are more environmentally friendly and the reaction can be powered directly by sunlight. Electrolysis is the incumbent technology having been developed since the 1960's to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. Assuming that electricity comes from a 100% renewable resource, like solar or wind farms, the hydrogen produced by electrolysis is considered to be truly green. If, however, the electricity comes from a coal or natural gas fired plant, the hydrogen is not green. And one cannot play a shell-game with the power source either. For instance hydroelectric energy doesn't make green hydrogen, if the hydro-electricity removed from the grid then has to be replaced by other sources.

We believe the 2 electron process of splitting water with light and our catalysts requires less energy than the 4 electron process that electrolysis uses. We finesse a single hydrogen atom off a water molecule allowing the parts to recombine as hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide. By contrast, electrolysis uses intense energy to blast apart water molecules which recombine as hydrogen and oxygen.

At this time we intend to license the technology by application and region. The US and the EU are our initial targets for partnerships, but we are open to other regions as allowed by the US Department of State.

Early partners will have the ability to steer our research and development applications toward their existing customer needs. It's going to be an exclusive club for the first few years because we don't want to spread ourselves too thin.