Green Chemistry Blog

The photocatalyst ZnIn₄S₄was synthesized hydrothermally and applied to the conversion of hydrogen sulfide to hydrogen under solar light.

Scientists from India have demonstrated that a zinc nanostructured photocatalyst could be used to decompose hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) into hydrogen (H₂).  H₂S is commonly converted into water and sulfur using the Claus process. However this process is not considered to be environmentally viable due to its high cost and the fact that it usually creates further environmental problems.  This has switched interest into converting H₂S into H₂ in order to try and avoid these issues.

Kale and colleagues report here the controlled synthesis of ZnIn₄S₄by a hydrothermal method and its application to H₂S conversion to H₂ using solar energy.  The H₂ evolution rate obtained is much higher compared to earlier reported photocatalysts.

To read more, just click on the link below.  This article is free to access until the 21st September 2011!

Ecofriendly hydrogen production from abundant hydrogen sulfide using solar light-driven hierarchical nanostructured ZnIn₂S₄photocatalyst, Nilima S. Chaudhari, Ashwini P. Bhirud, Ravindra S. Sonawane, Latesh K. Nikam, Sambhaji S. Warule, Vilas H. Rane and Bharat B. Kale, Green Chem., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1GC15515F