In the lab: Pioneering the Future of Hydrogen with New Materials

As the global call for sustainable energy solutions intensifies, so does the urgency to discover and develop materials that can meet the challenges of hydrogen production and extend their applications beyond. The hydrogen economy, while promising, necessitates materials that can keep pace with the evolving demands of sustainable energy. Sybilla Lab at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology stands as a testament to this imperative.

Sybilla lab is a joint research facility dedicated to developing groundbreaking materials crucial for the hydrogen industry, playing a pivotal role in advancing new-generation electrolysers, and pushing the boundaries of high-performance photolysis systems.

Breaking new ground in hydrogen production

Research projects devoted to new photocatalysts for producing hydrogen by solar-driven water splitting are at the forefront of Sybilla Lab's innovative activities. While the STONB project is studying strontium titanate, HEPHOTO is looking at sodium tantalate. In addition to the material studied, the difference between the two projects lies in the dopants used to narrow the material's band gap in order to promote the absorption of solar photons.

This is a complex multi-parametric problem that can be tackled effectively using a combinatorial approach. In this respect, Sybilla implements a combinatorial deposition process.

Both projects have received funding from the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), in collaboration with the French company 3D-Oxides.

Sybilla 450: A Tech Marvel

Central to the Sybilla Lab's capabilities is the Sybilla 450 machine, a unique apparatus for thin film deposition implementing a process called Chemical Beam Vapor Deposition. This is a combinatorial method to effectively tackle the problem of development of materials with complex stoichiometry, such as those required for the next generation of photo-catalysts and photo-electrodes.

On top of this, Sybilla 450 is capable of treating substrates with diameters of up to 450mm, a size that allows for the production of photo-electrodes of sufficient size for relevant usage tests. The Sybilla 450 machine is a testament to the lab’s commitment to scalability and practical applicability, ensuring that research findings can be seamlessly integrated into real-world hydrogen production processes.

Emanuele Barborini, Group Leader at LIST, says: “While the immediate focus is on advancing hydrogen production technologies, the ultimate goal of Sybilla Lab transcends the boundaries of current challenges. In fact, thanks to its combinatorial approach, it aspires to expedite the discovery of materials that not only meet the demands of hydrogen production but also lay the groundwork for innovations that will power the industries of tomorrow."

In the dynamic landscape of sustainable energy research, Sybilla Lab stands as a beacon of innovation and collaboration. Through pioneering projects such as STONB and HEPHOTO, the lab is pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in hydrogen production and related technologies. The combination of visionary leadership, support from the FNR, and advanced equipment positions the lab at the forefront of the race to unlock the full potential of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source.