Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for photocatalytically splitting H2O, that is either in liquid or gaseous form, to produce hydrogen and oxygen using a radiation source comprising a spectrum of both a high energy component (such as ultraviolet, or UV, comprising visible light) and a low energy component (such as infrared, or IR, also comprising visible light). That is to say, the apparatus and the method both utilise or involve the entire or full spectrum of the radiation source to split H2O. Both the apparatus and method utilise a radiation concentrator assembly that comprises at least one optical element arranged and constructed to direct radiation from the radiation source on to a photocatalyst via a window to photocatalytically split H2O. The produced hydrogen and oxygen may subsequently be stored and used as a fuel source.

Abstract: A method for the production of hydrocarbon(s), such as methane, substituted hydrocarbons, such as methanol, or the production of hydrogen, the method comprising the steps of contacting a first catalyst with water in order to photocatalyse the splitting of at least some of the water into hydrogen and oxygen; and contacting a second catalyst with a gas stream comprising carbon dioxide and at least some of the hydrogen produced from step (a) in order to photocatalyse the reaction between the hydrogen and carbon dioxide to produce hydrocarbon(s), such as methane, and/or substituted hydrocarbons, such as methanol. In an embodiment, the catalyst comprises gold and or ruthenium nanoclusters supported on a substrate.

Abstract: A method for the production of hydrocarbon(s), such as methane, substituted hydrocarbons, such as methanol, or the production of hydrogen, the method comprising the steps of contacting a first catalyst with water in order to photocatalyse the splitting of at least some of the water into hydrogen and oxygen; and contacting a second catalyst with a gas stream comprising carbon dioxide and at least some of the hydrogen produced from step (a) in order to photocatalyse the reaction between the hydrogen and carbon dioxide to produce hydrocarbon(s), such as methane, and/or substituted hydrocarbons, such as methanol. In an embodiment, the catalyst comprises gold and or ruthenium nanoclusters supported on a substrate.