Atomic tweaks, Solar peaks: Boosting Solar Fuel Production with Materials Engineering

In this episode, we’re shining a light on the recent advances in material engineering for solar fuel production! Join us as we explore how scientists are making titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanowire arrays more efficient for turning sunlight and water into clean fuel. We’ll break down how clever tweaks—like adding nitrogen and tantalum, special hydrogen and ammonia treatments, and even a boost from cobalt—help these tiny structures capture more sunlight, reduce energy loss, and speed up water splitting. Discover how these breakthroughs are bringing us closer to practical, sustainable solar energy solutions!

Featured publications in this episode:

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/ja211369s

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/jp309743u

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/nl2028188