2006-06-23 11:13:19 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
I'm actually doing research into that right now. Using water as the hydrogen storage medium is not viable because it requires more energy to split the hydrogen and water than is captured by bringing them back together in a fuel cell. There are other storage mediums that do not require energy to remove the hydrogen. The specific medium I am experimenting with is called Sodium Borohydride, NaBH4. It reacts with water and a metal to produce 4 moles of hydrogen which can then be used in a fuel cell.
The technology for commercially usable fuel cells will be here sooner than you realize.
2006-06-23 15:03:27 · answer #1 · answered by chemical_kenny 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hydrogen is produced from water in fuel cells. A DC current is passed through the water with some type of electrolyte in it (probably sulfuric acid like in a car battery). Two electrodes are placed in the water and hydrogen is produced at one electrode and oxygen at the other. The hydrogen is collected and used for fuel. This is not a very efficient way to produce energy at this time but I'm sure someone will come up with a better way.
2006-06-23 15:53:25 · answer #2 · answered by xox_bass_player_xox 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By energetic I take it you mean it requires a lot of energy. It does. The hydrogen sources for fuel cells are not water but methanol, ethanol, propane or some other compound. Water is just too darn stable to get any energy out of it.
2006-06-23 12:58:56 · answer #3 · answered by prysbit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem with hydrogen useage in cars right now is the production of hydrogen. With today's technology it generally takes more energy to produce hydrogen than the hydrogen will ever yield from combustion.
2006-06-23 11:27:31 · answer #4 · answered by jvcc06 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋