A cheap way to generate hydrogen fuel is developed
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a cheap way to generate hydrogen fuel from gelatin.
This type of fuel is an ideal alternative to the traditional gasoline and diesel. Zero emissions and high efficiency make it a “dream fuel”. Hydrogen has the only one disadvantage – the high cost of production. Platinum, currently the best – but also most expensive – is used as hydrogen fuel catalyst.
Californian researchers created a new – alternative to platinum – powerful catalyst. The catalyst, which is composed of nanometer-thin sheets of metal carbide – either molybdenum, tungsten or cobalt – is manufactured using a self-assembly process that relies on a surprising ingredient: gelatin, the material that gives Jell-O its jiggle and that you can eat even.
“We believe that as gelatin dries, it self-assembles layer by layer. The metal ion is carried by the gelatin, so when the gelatin self-assembles, your metal ion is also arranged into these flat layers, and these flat sheets are what give Jell-O its characteristic mirror-like surface,” senior author Liwei Lin, professor of mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley, explains.
Heating the mixture to 600 degrees Celsius triggers the metal ion to react with the carbon atoms in the gelatin, forming large, nanometer-thin sheets of metal carbide. The unreacted gelatin burns away. Then it is placed in water with running an electric current through it to break the water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen.
According to Liwei Lin, the performance of new catalysts is very close to the best catalyst made of platinum and carbon, which is the gold standard in this area. This means that the very expensive platinum can be replaced with new material, which is a highly efficient and low-cost catalyst.”
The follow-up distribution of the technology would make possible the large-scale production of hydrogen fuel. Its use would significantly reduce the level of harmful emissions and improve environmental performance.
