Scientists solve 10-year hydrogen mystery

A new solution to a decade-old chemical mystery could lead to commercially practical storage solutions for hydrogen vehicles, researchers say.

Since 1997, hydrogen researchers have known that the titanium allows hydrogen to be generated at lower temperatures and with higher efficiency, which means hydrogen can be stored onboard a vehicle at realistic pressures and temperatures. What they didn’t understand was how it happened.

Using the hydride sodium alanate as a starting point, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles said they finally figured out just how titanium acts as a catalyst, reacting with metal hydrides that can store hydrogen and release it in gas form when heated.

"This method and this knowledge can now be used to analyze other materials that would make for better storage systems than sodium alanate," said study co-author Hakan Gunaydin.

"We are still on the fundamental end of the study. But if we can figure this out computationally, the people with the technology in engineering can figure out the rest."

This week's announcement from UCLA coincided with the start of the annual Technology, Entertainment, & Design (TED) conference in Monterey, California.

TED attendees have had the opportunity to test-drive German car company BMW’s (FRA: BMW) Hydrogen 7 car. Currently on the market, the car has both a tank for storing liquid hydrogen and a regular gas tank.

A recent EU report has also called for increased hydrogen research support. (See the Cleantech Group’s EU study says hydrogen support needs to start now.)

The UCLA study may not be enough to satisfy hydrogen critics, who question the safety of driving while sitting on a compressed volatile gas. Electric carmakers have accused hydrogen fuel cell devotees of clinging too tenaciously to an outdated approach they selected in 2003 when the zero emissions mandate was revised. (See the Cleantech Group’s Hydrogen cars non-starters.)

The study will appear in the print edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and is currently available on the journal’s website.

Cleantech developments making news in the past 24 hours

• AES raises $1.58B with China Investment

View the last week of cleantech developments here | Subscribe to full feed