We report the generation of molecular hydrogen from water by laser irradiation, without any electrodes and photocatalysts. A near infrared pulsed nanosecond laser is used for exposure of colloidal solution of Au nanoparticles suspended in water. Laser exposure of the colloidal solution results in formation of plasma of laser breakdown of liquid and emission of H 2 . The rate of H 2 emission depends critically on the energy of laser pulses. There is a certain threshold in laser fluence in liquid (around 50 J/cm 2 ) below which plasma disappears and H 2 emission stops.H 2 emission from colloidal solution of Au nanoparticles in ethanol is higher than that from similar water colloid. It is found that formation of plasma and emission of H 2 or D 2 can be induced by laser exposure of pure liquids, either H 2 O or D 2 O, respectively. The results are interpreted as water molecules splitting by direct electron impact from breakdown plasma.

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