Q about current article: On-demand Hydrogen Generation : ACS Nano Letters

[pdxjjb]

Here is the abstract: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nl304680w

I would need to pay the $35 so I have not read the full text.

Question: it says "...without Light, Heat, or Electricity." Where is the energy required to split the water molecules coming from?

Jeff

 

[DrDu]

2H2O +Si -> SiO2 +2H2

This reaction is very exothermic due to the high energy of formation of SiO2.

 

[Borek]

In a way it is not much different from using Al/Ga alloy for the same purpose.

 

[pdxjjb]

Thank you both. I foolishly thought they might be claiming some kind of catalysis. I saw the error of my ways soon after posting.

 

[LudusRex]

, the energy required for this on-demand hydrogen generation process is likely coming from a chemical reaction within the system. This could involve a catalyst or other reactants that release energy when combined with water molecules. Without access to the full text, it is difficult to determine the exact source of energy for this process. However, it is clear that this technology is exploring alternative methods for hydrogen generation that do not rely on traditional sources of energy such as light, heat, or electricity. Further research and experimentation will help to elucidate the specific mechanism and potential applications of this innovative approach.