HyperSolar gets Australian patent
HyperSolar, a developer of technology for producing renewable hydrogen using sunlight and water, has been granted a patent from the Australian Government entitled 'Multi-junction artificial photosynthetic cell with enhanced photovoltage' issued as Patent No. 2015231504.
This patent is jointly owned by HyperSolar and the Regents of the University of California, as a result of the collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara in developing the technology.
The patent protects the company's proprietary design of a self-contained high voltage solar-to-hydrogen device made up of billions of solar-powered water-splitting nanoparticles, per square centimetre. These nanoparticles are based on compound semiconductor materials.
The important aspect of the patented technology is the integrated structures of high-density arrays of nano-sized high voltage solar cells as the core of hydrogen production units. The nanoparticles can be produced on ultra-thin sheets through a roll-to-roll process which requires substantially lower materials cost and manufacturing cost compared to conventional solar cells used in rooftop power applications. Further the manufacturing process uses low physical and carbon footprint and maximises raw material use.
Commented HyperSolar's CEO Tim Young: "With abundant land and sun, Australia offers huge opportunity for our renewable hydrogen. Both Toyota and Hyundai have committed to bringing hydrogen fuel-cell cars to Australia. The patent is critical to protecting the intellectual property related to the development our GEN 2 technology. It complements our other granted and pending patents and puts us a step closer to realising our goal of renewable, low-cost hydrogen produced near or at the point of use, such as at hydrogen stations or in Amazon fulfilment centres where hydrogen fuel-cell powered forklifts are widely used."
