A new era of cheap fuel cells
A new era of cheap fuel cells
American University found that the new low carbon fuel cell catalyst to create a new era
Fuel cells has always been to "environmental savior" for people to praise, because it will be clean and efficient hydrogen and other types of fuel into electricity. However, the development of fuel cell technology must be used because of the expensive catalyst - platinum and stagnant.
Now developed a carbon nanotube-based (carbon nanotube) in the new fuel cell, this fuel cell using platinum as a catalyst than the battery cheaper, seamless and efficient.
University of Dayton, Ohio (University of Dayton) of the Dai Liming (Liming Dai) research team led by Professor found several bundles of hydrogen mixed nanotubes can serve as a catalyst to help place inside the fuel cell oxygen-related chemical reactions.
According to "New Scientist" magazine, said the discovery in the development of fuel cells has taken an important step on the path. Carbon fuel cell catalyst is not generating heat by burning fuel for the turbine-powered, but the chemical energy directly into current.
Push hydrogen through the battery anode, hydrogen molecules split into its component electrons and protons; electronic flow from the battery to provide power, while the proton left behind in the cell to spread; Finally, the electrons and protons are negative in the battery join with oxygen to form water molecules.
Pure energy?
The case in the absence of catalyst, the above chemical reaction very slowly. Therefore, the need for battery anode formed by a chemical catalyst to speed up the rate of chemical reaction. Traditional approach, only platinum can make the chemical reaction very soon.
Professor Dai Liming research team found that when they conduct a study of carbon nanotubes as a catalyst, the results surprised them. Professor Dai Liming said: "Although platinum has long been considered the best catalyst for fuel cells, but these (carbon) catalyst results even better than platinum."
Catalyst for his team generated electricity with carbon nanotubes is the use of platinum 4 times the power. In addition, the platinum or gold nanoparticle aggregates with carbon monoxide pollution, they will fail, and carbon catalysts does not.
Cost-cutting
Professor Dai Liming that carbon nanotubes has been able to become an effective catalyst for fuel cells is due to the presence of hydrogen. Their results show that each hydrogen atom will be attracted from the adjacent carbon atoms in the electron, the electron from the carbon atoms through the electronic supplement the fuel cell cathode. This means that when an oxygen molecule with the fuel cell anode met to already have enough e-react with them.
Although carbon nanotubes are still relatively expensive, but their prices are getting lower and lower - and Professor Dai Liming said that the effect of carbon nanotubes can also be mixed hydrogen from other types of carbon to achieve. He said: "Now that we have found one of the chemical theory, there is no need to use some of the nanotubes."
Illinois USA (Illinois) A Gongna National Laboratory (Argonne National Laboratory USA), Liu Biodroga (Di-Jia Liu) previously identified a weak catalytic nanotubes. She said: "This is an interesting progress. (The study found that carbon nanotubes as a catalyst) for the development of fuel cells are expensive clear this obstacle."
Now determine whether the next car or phone powered by nanotubes is still too early, she said: "The role of carbon nanotubes have been the first real test Caixing operating environment."
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26.10.2010. u 05:28 | 0 Komentara | Print | # | ^
