EPN builds “nanoreactors,” that is, very small reactors around 100,000 times smaller than a grain of rice. The foundation of each nanoreactor is a light absorbing semiconductor, a material that can absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. This light absorber is then surrounded by a coating that acts as a guard, only allowing the proper chemicals to pass through. To complete these nanoreactors, they are combined with catalysts, the chemicals that actually facilitate hydrogen generation. One chemical process builds billions upon billions of these nanoreactors, which added together, produces commercially viable hydrogen from water. Written by Olivia Bird, EPN Graduate Student