The abstract looks simple enough? They played with some chemicals / catalysts, and have demonstrated a prototype where they made a "Solar Panel" that turns water (H2O) into 2H2 + O2... aka Hydrogen + Oxygen. The measured efficiency was 13.8%, less efficient than an electric solar panel (20% to 25% efficiency), but possibly the most efficient solar -> hydrogen design discussed so far.
Consider a 25% efficient solar panel -> 50% electrical efficiency to convert H2O into H2 + O2 == 12.5% total efficiency (and a 25% efficient solar panel is a high-end panel). So this design discussed is probably better than the status quo.
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There are internet flame wars over the future of energy and energy storage.
Lithium Ion batteries are one form. Hydrogen is being proposed as a fuel of the future (with Japan showing off Hydrogen torches all over the Olympics earlier this year, as a lot of Japanese companies are pushing Hydrogen as a future fuel)
But efficiency of immature processes only ever improves. Solar is close to maxing out, in watts/m^2, although watts/$ is still in free-fall. Space for solar panels is cheap, so the latter figure dominates.
Consider a 25% efficient solar panel -> 50% electrical efficiency to convert H2O into H2 + O2 == 12.5% total efficiency (and a 25% efficient solar panel is a high-end panel). So this design discussed is probably better than the status quo.
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There are internet flame wars over the future of energy and energy storage.
Lithium Ion batteries are one form. Hydrogen is being proposed as a fuel of the future (with Japan showing off Hydrogen torches all over the Olympics earlier this year, as a lot of Japanese companies are pushing Hydrogen as a future fuel)