Research Primer: Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Despite skepticism about its commercial viability, hydrogen has potential to be a clean, sustainable fuel, according to Oxford Analytica. However, a variety of obstacles must be overcome for this to be realized, OxAn says in a new report.
Current technologies seek to generate hydrogen in fuel cells via electrolysis of a renewable material such as water or biomaterial. Nonetheless, the electrode design, catalysts and electrolyte materials used in fuel cells pose technical problems that limit power and longevity.
Electrolysis currently is used to split water into oxygen and hydrogen for fuel cells. However, this is an expensive process, and because it is powered by diffuse solar energy, large tracts of land need to be covered with solar panels to produce sufficient quantities of hydrogen.
Photoelectrolysis is the direct splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen using light. Such ‘artificial photosynthesis’ could reduce capital costs and increase the efficiency of hydrogen production. Sunlight is the only energy input and hydrogen is evolved without external current flow. Development of a new catalytic film has made viable the process, which is a step towards efficiently generating hydrogen for fuel at low cost and with negligible environmental impact. However, substantial development remains necessary.
Logistical issues are associated with implementation of hydrogen as a widely used fuel source. Storage of hydrogen in porous materials in part would provide a solution. However, the ultimate goal is to carry hydrogen as a liquid, as cars running on fuel cells could use stations employing roughly the same liquid-fuel infrastructure as already exists.
Some 14% of global greenhouse emissions come from the transport sector. In the developing world, this proportion is growing rapidly. Hydrogen fuel could allow transport growth to have minimal effect on the atmosphere. Furthermore, the volatile price of oil has helped ensure that the push for alternative transportation technologies is well funded and has international support.
Initiatives launched in the United States, Japan and the EU suggest a promising future for the hydrogen energy industry.
A spike in interest and projected research investments has begun to create career opportunities in academia and industry for chemists, physicists and engineers.
While the EU has lagged behind Japan and the United States, investment now is forthcoming. Pilot schemes already are underway. Large corporations also are investing huge amounts of capital into hydrogen fuel technologies.
Hydrogen fuel has clear potential to be a clean and sustainable fuel source. Presently several issues still must be overcome. However, technologies are advancing swiftly enough to encourage corporations and governments to invest heavily. The result not only could have environmental benefits, but also may create significant employment opportunities.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
