The direct conversion of sunlight into hydrogen by photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting is one of the simplest methods to convert solar energy into a storable fuel.  The practical realization of this technology depends critically on the availability of a suitable electrode material that combines acceptable solar response and efficiency and sufficient service lifetime for energy payback. 

RSLE has developed a transformational photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) that overcomes previous barriers to full scale commercialization and achieving potential solar Hydrogen conversion efficiencies of 10% or higher by the utilization of breakthrough band edge engineering in Nitride Thin Film devices. This discovery offers a unique opportunity to design and produce a PEC for efficient solar water splitting that is corrosion resistant and can be synthesized on a variety of inexpensive substrates.

Fig. 1 is a diagram of the Nitride Thin Film PEC. Figure 2 illustrates conduction (red) and valence (blue) band positions for several common semiconductors with respect to the vacuum level.  The dashed lines represent the positions of the H2/O2 redox potentials.  Band positions for an ideal material for PEC application is depicted on the left.