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Cobalt atoms on graphene a powerful combo|catalyst holds promise for clean, inexpensive hydrogen...
Last edited Wed Oct 21, 2015, 11:33 PM - Edit history (2)
http://news.rice.edu/2015/10/21/cobalt-atoms-on-graphene-a-powerful-combo/[font face=Serif][font size=5]Cobalt atoms on graphene a powerful combo[/font]
[font size=4]Rice University catalyst holds promise for clean, inexpensive hydrogen production [/font]
[font size=3]HOUSTON – (Oct. 21, 2015) – Graphene doped with nitrogen and augmented with cobalt atoms has proven to be an effective, durable catalyst for the production of hydrogen from water, according to scientists at Rice University.
The Rice lab of chemist James Tour and colleagues at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Houston have reported the development of a robust, solid-state catalyst that shows promise to replace expensive platinum for hydrogen generation.
Catalysts can split water into its constituent hydrogen and oxygen atoms, a process required for fuel cells. The latest discovery, detailed in Nature Communications, is a significant step toward lower-cost catalysts for energy production, according to the researchers.
“What’s unique about this paper is that we show not the use of metal particles, not the use of metal nanoparticles, but the use of atoms,” Tour said. “The particles doing this chemistry are as small as you can possibly get.”
...
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[font size=4]Rice University catalyst holds promise for clean, inexpensive hydrogen production [/font]
[font size=3]HOUSTON – (Oct. 21, 2015) – Graphene doped with nitrogen and augmented with cobalt atoms has proven to be an effective, durable catalyst for the production of hydrogen from water, according to scientists at Rice University.
The Rice lab of chemist James Tour and colleagues at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Houston have reported the development of a robust, solid-state catalyst that shows promise to replace expensive platinum for hydrogen generation.
Catalysts can split water into its constituent hydrogen and oxygen atoms, a process required for fuel cells. The latest discovery, detailed in Nature Communications, is a significant step toward lower-cost catalysts for energy production, according to the researchers.
“What’s unique about this paper is that we show not the use of metal particles, not the use of metal nanoparticles, but the use of atoms,” Tour said. “The particles doing this chemistry are as small as you can possibly get.”
...
...[/font][/font]
8 replies
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Strangely enough, millions of people drive around with tanks of it in their cars with barely a second thought.
http://www.undeerc.org/NCHT/midH2Works/Safety.aspx
(Hydrogen leak on the left, gasoline leak on the right...)
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/30535be.pdf
Last edited Wed Oct 21, 2015, 11:10 PM - Edit history (1)
If you put hydrogen in a flying collection of flammable gas bags, and ignite it, something similar would probably happen.
http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/design-technology
As for using gasoline safely...
http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/vehicles
[font face=Serif][font size=5]Vehicles[/font]
[font size=3]U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 152,300 automobile fires per year in 2006-2010. These fires caused an average of 209 civilian deaths, 764 civilian injuries, and $536 million in direct property damage.
Facts and Figures
[font size=3]U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 152,300 automobile fires per year in 2006-2010. These fires caused an average of 209 civilian deaths, 764 civilian injuries, and $536 million in direct property damage.
Facts and Figures
- Automobile fires were involved in 10% of reported U.S. fires, 6% of U.S. fire deaths.
- On average, 17 automobile fires were reported per hour. These fires killed an average of four people every week.
- ...
- Only 2% of automobile fires began in fuel tanks or fuel lines, but these incidents caused 15% of the automobile fire deaths.
http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_disaster#Cause_of_ignition
Clearly, hydrogen was involved in the fire. However, in what way is the Hindenburg relevant to say... an automobile?
One way in which it is relevant, is the way the Hindenburg burnt. Hydrogen, a very light gas, rose and burnt above the Hindenburg's passengers.
http://flightlines.airforcetimes.com/2013/05/06/this-week-in-history/
If hydrogen were to leak from an automobile, it would quickly rise away from the car. If it were ignited, it would burn above the car and its passengers. Whereas, if gasoline leaks from an automobile, it pools beneath the car, its fumes spread across the ground. If it is ignited, it burns beneath the car and its passengers.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/30535be.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_disaster#Cause_of_ignition
Clearly, hydrogen was involved in the fire. However, in what way is the Hindenburg relevant to say... an automobile?
One way in which it is relevant, is the way the Hindenburg burnt. Hydrogen, a very light gas, rose and burnt above the Hindenburg's passengers.
http://flightlines.airforcetimes.com/2013/05/06/this-week-in-history/
If hydrogen were to leak from an automobile, it would quickly rise away from the car. If it were ignited, it would burn above the car and its passengers. Whereas, if gasoline leaks from an automobile, it pools beneath the car, its fumes spread across the ground. If it is ignited, it burns beneath the car and its passengers.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/30535be.pdf
