Research · hybrid approaches
Integrated Technologies
Why not integrate technologies in hybrid solar devices to demonstrate advantages over conventional photovoltaic-electrolysis?
Our approach
One system for multiple functions
The synthesis of fuels using sunlight can be achieved by coupling well established photovoltaic (PV) panels with electrolysers. However, this approach makes poor use of the solar spectrum as it limits the utilisation of the full solar spectrum, in particular infrared light for commercial viability.
We develop integrated hybrid technologies that enable full solar spectrum utilisation, spanning from the ultraviolet to the infrared, with the goal to demonstrate advantages over conventional PV-electrolyser technologies. We currently focus on thermal management to use heat to improve the efficiency of our devices, to establish novel device configuration for unique applications such as coupling water purification to solar fuel production or couple direct air capture with utilisation to show that atmospheric CO2 can be used for fuel production.
Selected work
Recent publications
A selection of studies on hybrid solar devices, spectrum utilisation and integrated fuel-production technologies.
Solar Air-to-Fuel Technologies for a Circular Carbon Economy
Kar, S.; Reisner, E. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2026, 148, 10267–10285.
Strategies to improve light utilization in solar fuel synthesis
Wang, Q.; Pornrungroj, C.; Linley, S.; Reisner, E. Nat. Energy, 2022, 7, 13-24.
Direct air capture of CO2 for solar fuel production in flow
Kar, S.; Kim, D.; Annuar, A. B. M.; Sarma, B. B.; Stanton, M.; Lam, E.; Bhattacharjee, S.; Karak, S.; Greer, H. F.; Reisner, E. Nat. Energy , 2025, 10, 448-459.
Hybrid photothermal–photocatalyst sheets for solar-driven overall water splitting coupled to water purification
Pornrungroj, C.; Mohamad Annuar, A. B.; Wang, Q.; Rahaman, M.; Bhattacharjee, S.; Andrei, V.; Reisner, E. Nat. Water, 2023, 1, 952-960.
Integrated capture and solar-driven utilization of CO2 from flue gas and air
Kar, S.; Rahaman, M.; Andrei, V.; Bhattacharjee, S.; Roy, S.; Reisner, E. Joule, 2023, 7, 1496-1514.
Thermoelectric–Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting under Concentrated Solar Irradiation
Pornrungroj, C.; Andrei, V.; Reisner, E. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2023, 145, 13709-13714.