Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Solar hydrogen generation: Exceeding 100% efficiency

Multiple exciton generation, in which two electron–hole pairs are generated from the absorption of one high-energy photon, has been demonstrated to improve efficiency in quantum-dot-based solar cells. Now, a photoelectrochemical system using PbS quantum dots is shown to drive hydrogen evolution with external quantum efficiency over 100%.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Multiple-exciton generation (MEG).
Figure 2: Photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution from aqueous Na2S solution.

References

  1. Lewis, N. S. Science 351, aad1920 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Olah, G. A. Angew. Chem. Int. Edn 52, 104–107 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Sambur, J. B., Novet, T. & Parkinson, B. A. Science 330, 63–66 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Yan, Y. et al. Nat. Energy 2, 17052 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Van Noorden, R. Nature http://doi.org/b5rc (2012).

  6. Padilha, L. A. et al. Nano Lett. 13, 1092–1099 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mikhail Zamkov.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zamkov, M. Solar hydrogen generation: Exceeding 100% efficiency. Nat Energy 2, 17072 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2017.72

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2017.72

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing