New catalyst may impact energy storage (MIT, electrolysis)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a new catalyst developed by Dan Nocera that enables the electrolysis of pH neutral water, potentially impacting energy storage applications. Participants explore its significance, efficiency, and possible real-world implementations, including home use and integration with renewable energy sources.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express uncertainty about the importance of the catalyst, noting it allows electrolysis of pH neutral water, unlike traditional methods that require alkaline solutions.
  • One participant suggests that the catalyst may achieve efficiencies comparable to platinum catalysts, raising questions about its potential for household applications.
  • Concerns are raised about the commercialization of the technology, with suggestions that it could be used to charge fuel cells from renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
  • Another participant emphasizes the challenges of applying laboratory concepts to real-world scenarios, noting that existing technologies may already achieve similar efficiencies under high pressures.
  • Discussion includes references to ongoing research in artificial photosynthesis, with various approaches being explored, but no consensus on which will be most successful.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the significance or feasibility of the new catalyst, with multiple competing views on its potential applications and the challenges of commercialization.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in the current understanding of the catalyst's efficiency and its practical applications, as well as the complexities involved in transitioning from laboratory conditions to real-world implementation.

marcus
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this EurekAlert page links to a MIT press release describing the operation of the new catalyst and potential applications

http://search.eurekalert.org/e3/query.html?qt=Nocera&col=ev3rel&qc=ev3rel&x=12&y=16

Dan Nocera is the main person responsible. Here's a ScienceDaily account
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731143345.htm

I can't tell how important this development really is. It allows the electrolysis of pH neutral water, apparently. Usual electrolysis requires an alkaline solution, apparently. I don't see any figures about efficiency. It seems to me that it could be important but I can't be sure. Any thoughts?
 
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marcus said:
this EurekAlert page links to a MIT press release describing the operation of the new catalyst and potential applications

http://search.eurekalert.org/e3/query.html?qt=Nocera&col=ev3rel&qc=ev3rel&x=12&y=16

Dan Nocera is the main person responsible. Here's a ScienceDaily account
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731143345.htm

I can't tell how important this development really is. It allows the electrolysis of pH neutral water, apparently. Usual electrolysis requires an alkaline solution, apparently. I don't see any figures about efficiency. It seems to me that it could be important but I can't be sure. Any thoughts?




This is very interesting . The catalyst should work with an efficiency comparable to that of the platinum catalyst with respect to solid surface phenomena . Old tricks for electrolysis required a charged solution so to make electron transfer throughout the solution more feasible . Could the future of the US be that every household are equipped with these devices ?
 
I don't know why someone isn't busy commercializing this. I see so many windmills that are idled most of the day and night. They could be charging fuel cells. Solar facilities could also be using the technology charging fuel cells for night time use.

Hopefully, the technology could be scaled down for home use charging fuel cells in cars.

Why do we have so much brilliant science and no engineering to make it work for us.
 
FrankD said:
I don't know why someone isn't busy commercializing this. I see so many windmills that are idled most of the day and night. They could be charging fuel cells. Solar facilities could also be using the technology charging fuel cells for night time use.

Hopefully, the technology could be scaled down for home use charging fuel cells in cars.

Why do we have so much brilliant science and no engineering to make it work for us.

You can't just take a concept that someone created in a lab under perfect ideal conditions and then instantly apply it to the real world. Technology just doesn't work that way. It should also be noted that a lot of modern technologies and techniques already commercially available can reach very comparable efficiencies and reach those efficiencies at high pressures (this is a really big deal). FYI, you can't charge a fuel cell. It's not a battery or energy storage device, its an engine.
 
Well, a lot of people are working on artificial photosynthesis, typically with the goal of producing hydrogen from water, is a huge field.
It's being attacked from every conceivable angle.

For instance, the EU's http://www.fotomol.uu.se/Forskning/Biomimetics/solarh2/overview.shtm" and Solar-H2 programs. Which is very ambitious and oriented at a biomimetic type catalyst.

There are others working more on purely organometallic catalysts.
And our group had a guy doing some theoretical studies on this stuff.

It's going to happen in the long term, that's for sure. I don't think anyone knows which approach is going to be most successful.
 
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