Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Using ZnS Particles and LEDs

Hydrogen is a sustainable and climate-friendly storage for renewable energies and can directly be generated from sunlight, e.g., by photocatalytic water splitting. This article presents the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution using LED irradiation of an aqueous ZnS particle dispersion with Na2S and Na2SO3 as sacrificial reagents. In contrast to previously published photocatalytic hydrogen production experiments for educational purposes, this experiment is safer and more environmentally friendly and can therefore be performed by students in school laboratories or in regular K–12 chemistry classes using a self-constructed low-cost setup. In addition, digital competences are fostered since the holder of the LED is constructed with a 3D printer and the formed hydrogen is detected with an Arduino hydrogen sensor.