Two USP research projects advance clean hydrogen production and expand the frontiers of the energy transition
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Two studies conducted by scientists at the São Carlos Institute of Physics at the University of São Paulo (IFSC/USP) point to complementary pathways for increasing the efficiency of hydrogen production using solar energy. Although they employ distinct catalytic architectures, the studies share the use of magnetron sputtering—a deposition technique capable of controlling materials at the nanoscale that already has established industrial applications. The results reinforce the role of materials engineering as a strategic frontier in transforming low-emission hydrogen into a more efficient and potentially competitive alternative.
From thin-film engineering to the atomic scale
In one of the studies, researchers developed bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) photoanodes modified with cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) to improve photoelectrochemical water splitting. This combination facilitated the separation of light-generated electrical charges and reduced losses associated with electron-hole recombination, resulting in increased photocurrent and improved conversion of solar energy into chemical energy stored in hydrogen. In the second study, the same technique was used to deposit isolated copper and platinum atoms onto graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄). This architecture maximizes the use of the metals as catalytic sites and, according to the results, yielded hydrogen production hundreds of times higher than that of the unmodified material, while requiring less platinum.
The convergence between the two studies lies less in the materials used than in the technological strategy: employing precise control over matter to overcome efficiency limitations while simultaneously bridging the gap between laboratory research and potentially scalable processes. Magnetron sputtering—already utilized in sectors such as semiconductors, electronic displays, and advanced coatings—enables the fabrication of everything from photoactive thin films to catalytic structures at the atomic scale. For Professor Renato Vitalino Gonçalves, the research coordinator, this combination of nanoscale control and the potential for industrial scaling opens up prospects for more efficient and durable devices. The work also highlights the importance of scientific collaboration and continuous research funding, involving teams from USP, national and international partners, and support from institutions such as FAPESP, CNPq, and USP itself.
Access the research HERE: Synergistic Co3O4 Surface Engineering of BiVO4 Photoanodes for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting (ACS Applied Energy Materials)
Access the research HERE: Solar Hydrogen Evolution Boosted by Cu and Pt Single-Atom Sites Anchored on g‑C3N4 via Magnetron Sputtering Deposition (ACS Nanoscience)
