The pace of technology means that there is always something ground-breaking on the horizon, and this new arrival to the renewable energy world will undoubtedly garner attention. Researchers at the RMIT University in Australia have developed 'solar paint' as a potential new energy source. Similar to silica gel (found in shoe boxes and handbags to absorb moisture), their newly developed compound 'also acts as a semiconductor and catalyses the splitting of water atoms into hydrogen and oxygen' according to the University. Combining it with titanium oxide produces paint - albeit a very useful, energy-producing version.
The applications are far reaching given the fact that 'any place that has water vapour in it the air, been remote areas far from water, can produce fuel. This system can also be used in very dry but hot climates near oceans. The sea water is evaporated by the hot sunlight and the vapour can then be absorbed to produce fuel.'
The current outlook is that it will take a number of years to develop commercially but once ready, would be inexpensive to produce.
Sources:
https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2017/jun/solar-paint-offers-endless-energy-from-water-vapour
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/solar-paint-clean-energy/
http://observer.com/2017/06/solar-paint-is-the-next-new-source-of-sustainable-energy/