Force from water

2002/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Energia berriztagarriak

Scientists have long sought an effective method to extract hydrogen from water in order to obtain a cheap and clean fuel. But it is not easy to separate the water molecule. Although it can be done with electricity, it would be a polluting process. On the contrary, the use of sunlight as a source of energy would allow an unsafe process for the environment.

Zhigang Zou of Japan and his team have presented a photocatalyst of metallic oxides that works in visible light and does not degrade with use. The effectiveness of the photocatalyst depends on the amount of the oxide contained in the Indian, Tantalum, and nickel. The irruption in the water of sunlight produces oxygen and hydrogen, and although for the moment it consumes 99% of the solar energy, they expect its efficiency to increase. If so, it would be available shortly for marketing. In fact, hydrogen is a clean, inexpensive and multi-purpose energy source. For example, it could be used in fuel cells of electric vehicles.