China's solar-powered system produces hydrogen from air moisture

Researchers at the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, led by Prof. YIN Huajie, have developed an innovative solar-powered system that produces green hydrogen directly from moisture in the air, eliminating the need for external water or energy inputs. This breakthrough addresses a significant challenge in sustainable hydrogen production, which traditionally relies on high-purity water, limiting its feasibility in arid regions. By combining atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) with proton exchange membrane electrolysis (PEMWE), the system uses a specially engineered hierarchically porous carbon material to efficiently absorb and evaporate water from low-humidity air, feeding it into an electrolyzer powered solely by solar energy. Laboratory tests demonstrated that the system maintains stable water collection and hydrogen production even at humidity levels as low as 20%, achieving nearly 300 milliliters of hydrogen per hour at 40% humidity. It also showed excellent long-term operational stability and zero carbon emissions, confirmed by field tests. This technology offers a promising pathway for sustainable