A hydrogen fuel economy could finally become a reality following the recent discovery of cheap and stable means of producing hydrogen from water.
![Water splitting using an innovative metallic catalyst [Courtesy of KTH The Royal Institute of Technology]](https://www.hayadan.org.il/images/content3/2016/07/pastedImage1.png)
[Translation by Dr. Nachmani Moshe]
A hydrogen fuel economy could finally become a reality following the recent discovery of cheap and stable means of producing hydrogen from water.
Scientists from the Royal Stockholm Institute of Technology now report that they have succeeded in overcoming one of the main obstacles in harnessing water as a renewable energy source. In view of the fact that the most effective catalysts for electrochemical oxidation, or the process known as "water splitting", are expensive rare metals, the study, led by Professor Licheng Sun, is just one of many studies around the world looking for cheaper alternatives. These researchers have previously developed a molecular catalyst for water oxidation (Nature Chem. 2012, 4, 418) with an efficiency approaching that of the natural process, photosynthesis.
The current study, published in the scientific journal Nature Communications, reports the discovery of a new material composed of common elements that could be used as a catalyst for water splitting, and could help change the entire economy in the field of hydrogen fuel production. The researchers explain that the new material consists of a monolayer of double hydroxide linked to nickel and vanadium atoms. The extremely cheap and efficient nickel-vanadium monolayer outperforms other electrocatalysts made of inexpensive materials, explains the lead researcher. In addition, the new material offers a competitive and cheap alternative to catalysts based on rarer and more expensive materials, such as iridium oxide (IrO2) or ruthenium oxide (RuO2).
"This is the first time that the metal vanadium is used to plate nickel hydroxide to produce a catalyst for water oxidation, and the system works properly - even far beyond our expectations," explains the lead researcher. "There is no doubt that this material will be able to significantly expand the scope of inexpensive metal elements in the field of electrocatalysts, and it opens a window to new avenues in the field of water splitting." The new material consists of a layered structure less than one nanometer thick. "This feature of single-layer not only increases the size of the active surface, but also accelerates the speed of electron transfer within the material," explains the researcher.
7 תגובות
I saw an engine on 50 percent water! The Americans put the inventor in a psychiatric hospital..
In the end he promised not to take it out and was released...
It is possible to produce hydrogen and use it on the spot. Without transport and without storage. It's just that it's difficult to collect tax from water, so as long as there is regular fuel, it just didn't come out. point…
Production and utilization of hydrogen only where it is needed. Without transport, transportation and storage. Everything is found, and you don't have to invent it. From production to an engine, to a heater in the house, to a car, to a washing machine, etc., just what, there is no and it is difficult to collect taxes from water.. So as long as there is no tax, no one will lift the glove.
Production and utilization of hydrogen only where it is needed. Without transport, transportation and storage. Everything is found, and you don't have to invent it. From production to an engine, to a heater in the house, to a car, to a washing machine, etc., just what, there is no and it is difficult to collect taxes from water.. So as long as there is no tax, no one will lift the glove.
Herzl
A. You don't necessarily need sun to produce hydrogen. It is possible to use any renewable or nuclear energy source and in the future maybe fusion. (It is also possible with the help of ordinary power plants, but of course it is pointless)
B. It is true that fuel cells are expensive today and use expensive materials, but as they manage to reduce production in the future, fuel cells will become cheaper
third. Transportation and storage of hydrogen is less convenient than what the world is used to from petroleum products. But no more complicated than using natural gas. And in any case, much more efficient than using batteries or future supercapacitors. A battery cannot reach the energy content of hydrogen.
Photoelectric cells and wind will not be able to replace oil and coal without a hydrogen economy.
One last thing. If it is possible to transport gas from Egypt to Israel through a pipeline, on what basis do you say "it is impossible to transport it from one place to another through a pipeline"
It seems to me that it is better to produce hydrogen (and oxygen from CO2) in the following way:
https://youtu.be/0BybPPIMuQQ?t=5961
in a concentrated and convenient manner, and utilizing an abundant source of energy.
Nice. Only in the painting and in the text there is one big lack: the sun! Without the sun it is impossible to light up Ramat Gan with the help of this catalyst. Wait, but even if there is sun, what will we do with the hydrogen? It cannot be stored, today it cannot be transported from one place to another in pipelines, to turn it into electricity you need horrifically expensive fuel cells. So it seems to me that the hydrogen story has already failed. The winners are photovoltaic cells and wind energy.