From Nature News: Catalyst heralded as solar-power breakthrough : Nature News Seems as though someone has figured out how to use a catalyst to enhance electrolysis. "Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge have discovered a simple, inexpensive system that can help to split water to produce oxygen and hydrogen gas. The process could, they suggest, be powered by solar photovoltaic cells."
Interesting work. Remember that this process does not create or release any energy, but is a net consumer of energy. In other words, what you get out will be less than what you put in. Look at this as yet another form of energy storage. It still has all of the advantages and problems associated with hydrogen as a fuel. The real benefit is that this process appears to be more efficient than ordinary electrolysis. In recent years there have been other advances in efficiently splitting water into its components, so this isn't the only lab posting gains in this area. Tom
If this plays out, should we expect the price of cobalt, platinum etc. to rise? Is a platinum war on the horizon?
Zen, Platinum doesn't appear to be the issue as the article says almost anything can be used as the electrode. The question is though, why doe the article keep referring to "photosynthesis"???? Or is there something I'm missing. I mean the author doesn't appear to be an idiot. Author : Nature News
DA, it think it has to do with the fact that Chlorophyll uses Cobalt and Phosphorous. I think it was more of an inspiration than anything else.
