Scientists in the United States have, for the first time, recorded the process of water splitting under the influence of sunlight in real time and at the nanoscale. This made it possible to directly observe how water molecules break apart, including the formation of hydrogen — one of the key clean energy sources.
Previously, such reactions were studied mainly indirectly — through theoretical models and experimental results. The new observation makes it possible to understand the details of the process and more precisely determine the conditions under which it proceeds most efficiently. This is important for developing technologies for producing hydrogen using solar energy.
Hydrogen is considered a promising fuel because its use does not produce carbon dioxide emissions. Producing it from water using light is considered one of the most environmentally friendly directions in modern energy.
Although the details of the experiment have not been disclosed, the very fact of observing the reaction at the nanoscale in dynamics is already considered a significant achievement. It may accelerate the development of technologies that would allow water and sunlight to be used as accessible energy sources.
