Slashdot Mirror
Aluminum Alloy Releases Hydrogen From Water
mdsolar writes "PhysOrg is reporting on a method of releasing hydrogen from water by oxidizing aluminum in an alloy with gallium. In the presence of water the aluminum oxidizes, leaving aluminum oxide, gallium, and hydrogen gas. The Purdue scientists who discovered the effect think this could help to overcome difficulties with hydrogen storage. Quoting: 'On its own, aluminum will not react with water because it forms a protective skin [of aluminum oxide] when exposed to oxygen. Adding gallium keeps the film from forming, allowing the aluminum to react with oxygen in the water.'"
One pound per mile of aluminium that, unless you have a really long cable, you have to carry with you. Having said that, estimating that there's something less than 8 pounds of gasoline to the undersized colonial gallon it's not that different to the mileage most American vehicles get.
It's true I tell you, feller at work's next door neighbour read it in the paper.
And supercapacitor technology (while another one of those techs that seems perpetually on the brink of being workable & cost effective) is always improving. A lot of people, namely conservatives, like to tout that having electric cars merely displaces the pollution generation to the coal and natural gas plants that provide most of the world's electricity; conveniently ignoring that even some of the oldest and most inefficient coal generators are more carbon friendly than the average car or truck.