Japan's scientists smash records, create clean fuel from sunlight, CO2

Researchers from the Institute of Science Tokyo and Hiroshima University have achieved a breakthrough in sustainable energy by developing a novel photocatalyst that converts sunlight, water, and CO2 into clean fuels with unprecedented efficiency. Their redesigned lead-based oxyhalide (Pb2Ti2O5.4F1.2 or PTOF) catalyst exhibits a record-high quantum yield of about 15% for hydrogen production and 10% for converting CO2 into formic acid. This performance boost—up to 60 times greater than previous catalysts—stems from a radical nanoscale restructuring that produces highly porous particles with a surface area (~40 m²/g) vastly exceeding conventional catalysts (~2.5 m²/g). The team’s innovative low-temperature, microwave-assisted synthesis method uses water-soluble titanium complexes to create ultra-small PTOF particles under 100 nm, which shortens the travel distance for charge carriers and reduces recombination losses despite slightly lower mobility. This eco-friendly approach avoids structural defects common in downsized