LAUSR

Electrochemistry Widespread use of solar power will require a convenient means of storing energy for use at night and on rainy days, and making hydrogen fuel from water is a clean prospective solution. Most current approaches split the water into hydrogen and oxygen in the same apparatus, with a membrane keeping the two mutually explosive gases apart. Landman et al. instead separated the half reactions entirely, linking the two cells with a pair of nickel-based electrodes of the sort used in rechargeable alkaline batteries. Because these cells require only an electrical connection, the setup could potentially enable centralized hydrogen production powered by far-flung arrays of solar cells where the oxygen would be released. Nat. Mater. 10.1038/NMAT4876 (2017).