Extracting the energy (and the physics) out of water.*

The condensed phases of water are a never-ending source of strange physics phenomena. From thermodynamic anomalies to uncommon nuclear quantum effects, the list of anomalous behavior just keeps on increasing. In principle, it is also a “never-ending” source of Hydrogen, the ideal green energy fuel. However, splitting water into Oxygen and Hydrogen molecules is a highly endothermic process. Ideally sufficiently energetic solar photons, when absorbed by the right semiconductor material can catalyze the reaction. To do so several critical physical processes both within the semiconductor material and at its surface in contact with water need to occur at the right time and energy scales. In this talk I will present how ab initio computational modelling of the water-semiconductor interface, combined with experimental insight has advanced our understanding of these complex mechanisms.