Domestic researchers have developed a technology to extract clean hydrogen from discarded sugarcane residues.
Researchers, including Professors Jang Ji-wook and Seo Kwan-yong from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in the Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, noted on the 16th that they have developed a technology to produce hydrogen from biomass derived from sugarcane residues and silicon photoelectrodes in collaboration with Professor Cho Seung-ho's research team in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Hydrogen does not emit greenhouse gases during combustion and can store energy at 2.7 times the weight of gasoline, making it a next-generation fuel. However, most hydrogen produced today is extracted from natural gas, a process that generates significant amounts of carbon dioxide.
The researchers developed a photoelectrochemical system for hydrogen production that does not emit carbon dioxide, utilizing a substance derived from sugarcane residues called "furfural." The process involves the oxidation of furfural on a copper electrode, which produces hydrogen, while the remaining substance is converted into a high-value material known as furoic acid.
Notably, hydrogen is also produced by the decomposition of water at the silicon photoelectrodes in this system. The photoelectrodes absorb sunlight to generate electrons, which are then used to decompose water without the need for external power. Since hydrogen is produced from both electrodes, the system was able to theoretically double the production rate compared to conventional photoelectrochemical systems, achieving a production rate close to four times the commercialization standards set by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Additionally, the researchers enhanced stability by wrapping the photoelectrodes with nickel foil and a glass layer, and utilized a rear electrode type (IBC) structure to reduce the voltage loss occurring within the photoelectrodes. The rear electrode structure allows the electrode on the surface of the solar cell to be placed on the back, maximizing light absorption.
Professor Jang Ji-wook stated, "This technology could play a key role in enhancing the economic efficiency of solar hydrogen and securing price competitiveness compared to hydrogen derived from fossil fuels."
The research findings were published on March 19 in the international journal "Nature Communications."
References
Nature Communications (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58000-4