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Possible Breakthrough In Hydrogen Energy

Posted by kdawson on from the doing-what-comes-naturally dept.

destinyland writes "MIT researchers have developed a method of splitting a water molecule by emulating the way blue-green algae separates oxygen from hydrogen. One chemistry professor called it 'an extremely clever piece of work' that addresses 'the nanoscale organization of the components.' Using sunlight rather than electricity to make hydrogen from water could greatly improve the efficiency of the process. The hydrogen can be stored for generating electricity or burned as fuel for cars. The project is being led by the winner of a 2004 MacArthur Foundation genius grant, who uses genetically engineered viruses as templates for nanoscale electronic components. 'Suddenly, I wondered, what if we could assemble materials like the abalone does — but not be limited to one element?'" Here is the press release from MIT; the research paper is available only to subscribers of Nature Nanotechnology (or those willing to part with $18).

17 of 326 comments (clear)

  1. What happens at night? by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 4, Funny

    Using sunlight rather than electricity [...]

    What happens if I run out of hydrogen at night?

    1. Re:What happens at night? by feepness · · Score: 5, Funny

      What happens if I run out of hydrogen at night?

      You have to make H while the sun shines.

    2. Re:What happens at night? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 2, Funny

      You have to make H while the sun shines.

      And where the sun doesn't shine, you can always make CH4...

    3. Re:What happens at night? by ooshna · · Score: 3, Funny

      They already made a vehicle like that. IT

    4. Re:What happens at night? by networkBoy · · Score: 5, Funny

      I already do this.
      I story my hydrogen in a liquid for ease of use. This way I can use hoses to get it to my engine where I then allow it back into a vapor form (by pushing it through small nozzles at about 135 bar.
      My storage method is really cool:
      I stick 34 hydrogen atoms onto a chain of 16 atoms of element 6.
      Best thing is that this method of storage is nearly explosion proof, even with a 20% oxygen atmosphere around my fuel storage, I can put a lit match out in it while it is in it's liquid state. It is only under extreme pressure that it detonates, and that is how I drive my car.

      --
      whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
  2. it's nothing, kapitalist dogs! by justleavealonemmmkay · · Score: 2, Funny

    North Korea has achieved fusion

  3. Not so fast . . . by NicknamesAreStupid · · Score: 2, Funny

    The algae have hired a lawyer and are suing the viruses, bacteria, and MIT for patent infringement.

    1. Re:Not so fast . . . by BluBrick · · Score: 5, Funny

      Wait, what? The pond scum is not the lawyer?

      --
      Ahh - My eye!
      The doctor said I'm not supposed to get Slashdot in it!
  4. Re:Over-rated by rubies · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thanks Sheldon, say hi to Penny for me.

  5. Re:which is better by fractoid · · Score: 2, Funny

    Then its a bit like putting the Earth at the focus of a mirror. We would need to find a source of cooling at the same time. Don't want wind up like the Puppeteers.

    Two heads and your brain in your ass?

    --
    Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
  6. Beat my idea by zmollusc · · Score: 4, Funny

    Damn, I thought i had the perfect way of breaking water molecules up: lending them to teenagers while saying 'be careful with these molecules' . Sadly, when it came to harvesting the hydrogen atoms, they had become lost or 'there was no atoms in the molecules' or 'what water molecules?'.

    --
    They whose government reduces their essential liberties for temporary security, receive neither liberty nor security.
  7. Re:I like my consumer electronics virus-free by jamesh · · Score: 4, Funny

    What could possibly go wrong?!

    Nothing. Didn't you notice the word 'harmless' appear twice in TFA? That was all the reassurance I needed. I'm sure the chance of the virus invading your body and splitting apart your molecules when you step out into the sunlight is very close to zero.

  8. Re:which is better by demonlapin · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have no idea what your personal political views are, so this is not a commentary on them - just something your comment reminds me of. I have always found it incredibly amusing that hard-core socialists and communists have pointed to the US trade ban with Cuba - i.e., insufficiently free trade - as the source of so many of the island's ills..

  9. Re: Don't want wind up like the Puppeteers. by MRe_nl · · Score: 3, Funny

    Inventing Stepping Disks, the Quantum II Hyperdrive, and the General Products Hulls?
    No, we should really try to avoid that ; ).

    --
    "Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
  10. Re: Don't want wind up like the Puppeteers. by fractoid · · Score: 3, Funny

    Quiet or I'll tasp you! ;)

    --
    Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
  11. Dr. Belcher by ionymous · · Score: 2, Funny

    Of course Dr. Belcher would be an expert on making gas.

  12. Re:Nanoscale Viruses? by somersault · · Score: 3, Funny

    Why do you sign your name on your posts when it's right there in the username, or could be put in your signature? I'm merely curious :P

    --
    which is totally what she said