On December 16 (Beijing time), according to the US Daily Science website, a groundbreaking discovery was made by scientists from China and the United States. For the first time, they successfully used cobalt oxide nanoparticles as a catalyst under visible light to rapidly split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This method is not only efficient and fast but also boasts a higher energy conversion rate compared to previous techniques. The study was recently published online in the journal *Nature Nanotechnology*. The lead researcher, Bao Jiming, an associate professor at the University of Houston's School of Electronics and Computer Engineering, highlighted that while further research is needed, this breakthrough has unveiled the potential of cobalt oxide as a new photocatalyst. The study involved collaboration between researchers from Sam Houston State University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sichuan University, and Texas State University. Bao explained that since the 1970s, scientists have experimented with various photocatalysts for water splitting. However, this experiment marked the first time that cobalt oxide was used to decompose neutral water under visible light. It achieved a high energy conversion efficiency without the need for additional catalysts. To prepare the cobalt oxide nanoparticles, the team employed two methods: femtosecond laser ablation and mechanical ball milling. Both techniques produced nanoparticles that performed equally well in the experiments. They tested different light sources, including lasers and simulated sunlight, and believe that natural sunlight would yield similar results. According to Bao, once the nanoparticles are introduced into the reaction and exposed to light, water splits into hydrogen and oxygen almost instantly. The amount of hydrogen produced is twice that of oxygen, matching the molecular ratio in water (Hâ‚‚O). This research could pave the way for renewable hydrogen fuel, but more improvements are still required. Bao noted that the current solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency is around 5%, while commercial viability would require about 10%. Additionally, challenges such as reducing costs and extending the lifespan of the nanoparticles remain. Scientists observed that the cobalt oxide nanoparticles lose most of their activity after about one hour of use. They plan to continue exploring key questions and further investigate the chemical and electrical properties of the material. This promising development may one day play a crucial role in sustainable energy solutions. (Reporter: Liu Xia) Special Cement,fast setting cement, special cement for mortar, ternary binder system, gypsum anhydrite, CSA cement Shanghai Na Long Tech Co., Ltd , https://www.na-long.com
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