GTI Granted Patent for Novel Direct Solar Hydrogen Technology

10/28/05 Des Plaines, IL

Gas Technology Institute (GTI) was recently notified by the United States Patent Office that a U.S. patent for a novel technology for direct splitting of water to produce hydrogen from solar energy will be awarded. Significantly, all twenty-six of the technical claims were allowed.

The GTI-developed Direct Solar Hydrogen™ water splitting cell technology holds the promise of a simplified, more efficient, and less costly approach for generating hydrogen from abundant and renewable solar energy resources. The unique Direct Solar Hydrogen technology electrochemical cell concept evolved from GTI’s work on proton exchange membranes for fuel cells.

The technology allows direct water splitting without the solar energy having to pass through a liquid layer, resulting, when compared to conventional solar water splitting cells, in higher efficiency and easier release of product gases, as well as elimination of corrosion. Directly splitting water in one cell also offers higher efficiency compared to devices with separate solar cells and electrolysis cells. The Direct Solar Hydrogen technology can be applied to various semiconductor materials such as amorphous or polycrystalline silicon, copper indium diselenide (CIS), and others. Work to date has focused on thin film devices for low cost and ease of manufacturing.

Organizations interested in further development or licensing opportunities for the Direct Solar Hydrogen technology should contact GTI.

GTI is the leading research, development and training organization serving the natural gas industry and energy markets. For more than 60 years, GTI has been meeting the nation's energy and environmental challenges by developing technology-based solutions for consumers, industry, and government.

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