Preliminary theory of mechano-catalytic water-splitting

It was discovered that simultaneous H2 and O2 evolution can be achieved by just stirring the powder of a p-type semiconductor such as Cu2O, NiO, Co3O4, Fe3O4 in distilled water at room temperatures. Frictional rubbing of the stirring rod onto the bottom of the glass vessel is an important condition. The friction between the stirring rod and the glass surface generates enough electrostatic field to make a field emission of the positive holes from the semiconductor-powder which are fixed at the micro crack spaces on the glass surface. The emitted positive holes react with water molecules to evolve O2 and protons, which go to the glass surface and combine with the electrons there to evolve H2. The energy conversion mechanism, the generation of frictional electricity, the effect of water, the carrier tunnelling emission probability, the hopping conduction in semiconductor, the effects of fluid dynamics, etc. are discussed.