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Hydrogen ‘cat-flap’ to signal end of petrol engine?


19/10/2004

SCIENTISTS in the north west have made a discovery that could potentially mean the end of the petrol engine.

Researchers from Liverpool and Newcastle universities have found a new safe way of storing and releasing hydrogen to produce energy.

The breakthrough, which involves injecting the gas at high pressure into tiny pores, could pave the way to environmentally-friendly hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Hydrogen is a much cleaner fuel than petrol or diesel since the only waste product made when it burns is water. A hydrogen-powered car would not contribute to global warming by generating the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, or churn out noxious pollutants.

But at present hydrogen is simply not a practical fuel alternative. Storing enough of the gas to provide sufficient range and power was impossible.

Sponge

The scientists believe they have taken a step to solving the problem. The key is to use porous materials containing holes a hundred thousand times smaller than the thickness of a sheet of paper.

Hydrogen is injected at high pressure into the tiny pores in specially designed materials that act as a 'sponge' for the gas.

Pressure within the material is then reduced, allowing the hydrogen to remain safely in place without the risk of an explosion. Heat can be applied to release the hydrogen from the porous material when it is needed.

Prof Matt Rosseinsky, from the University of Liverpool's Department of Chemistry, explained how the tiny channels in the porous material acted like a 'molecular cat flap'.

He said: 'After allowing the hydrogen molecule ' the 'cat' ' in, the structure closes shut behind it.

'The important point is that the hydrogen is loaded into the materials at high pressure but stored in them at a much lower pressure ' a unique behaviour. This basic scientific discovery may have significant ramifications for hydrogen storage.'

He said: 'After allowing the hydrogen molecule ' the 'cat' ' in, the structure closes shut behind it.

'The important point is that the hydrogen is loaded into the materials at high pressure but stored in them at a much lower pressure ' a unique behaviour. This basic scientific discovery may have significant ramifications for hydrogen storage.'


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Most recent 1 of 1 user comments

   Good. Now we only need to produce enough hydrogen for our needs. I wish it was that easy.
Freitas, Cardoso, Portugal
19/08/2005 at 01:13

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