Ishita Sinha et. al. / International Journal of New Technologies in Science and Engineering Vol. 4, Issue. 5, 2017, ISSN 2349-0780 Available online @ www.ijntse.com 1 Development of Artificial Leaf for Hydrogen Gas Generation using Carbon Nano-Tubes Ishita Sinha 1 & Dr. Rabindranath Jana 2 1 Principal Author : Final year student , sinha.ishita94@gmail.com 2 Supervisor & Professor : rabindrajana@hithaldia.in Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Haldia Institute of Technology ICARE Complex, Haldia – 721 657, Purba Medinipur, W.B. Abstract : An artificial leaf from titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on different substrates e.g, cast iron, indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass, etc has been fabricated and tested for its performance. MWNTs was selected as one component due to its special structures and unique electronic properties; MWNTs has the potential to extend the photo response range of TiO2 to visible-light region by modification of band gap and/or sensitization and increase the photo-activity of TiO2 by contribution to high surface area and inhibition of electron-hole recombination. MWNTs-TiO2 nano-composite with significant photo-activity has been synthesized successfully by direct growth of TiO2 nano-particles on the surface of the functionalized MWNTs using the hydrothermal treatment process. MWNTs have shown a synergy effect on enhancing photo-activity for H2 evolution over a mixture of MWNTs and TiO2. Key Words : Artificial Leaf, Hydrogen Generation, Multiwalled Carbon Nano-Tube, TiO2, 1. INTRODUCTION An artificial leaf is a light harvesting tool that attempts to capture sunlight and preserve it into a valuable energy source for our future use. It maximizes the efficiency in gathering solar power by mimicking the process of photosynthesis. It is a device that can bind sunlight by splitting water into H2 and O2. It operates under simple conditions with different catalytic materials bonded onto the two sides of the leaf, e.g., silicon layer coated with cobalt based catalyst can releases oxygen. It may release hydrogen from water molecules if the other side of the silicon sheet if coated with nickel molybdenum zinc alloy. However, the main objectives are to efficiently convert water H2 and O2. Hydrogen is generally produced from water by its electrolysis and stored in its molecular level by some metal hydrides; though these hydrides require a sophisticated storage system [1]. As H2 has the possibility to be a sustainable, sparkling, and abundant energy source, many scientist are attracted to work on it [2-4]. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, artificial leaf is designed to capture solar energy for water-splitting. Recent developments based on molecular or nanostructure designs have led to advances in our understanding of light-influenced charge separation and simultaneously catalytic water oxidation and reduction [5]. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are already started which only emit water when driven. Producing hydrogen at low cost from water using the clean energy from the sun would be a great challenge.