A researcher from Florida State University designed new materials that could be employed in storing hydrogen fuel more efficiently in vehicles and other devices that use clean energy. The research was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
The research was conducted by Jose Mendoza-Cortes, an assistant professor at the FAM-FSU College of Engineering, and it represents a description of this proposition and how it would work if implemented.
Hydrogen Fuel - Mastering The Formula
There have already been scientific propositions concerning this issue. Researchers had already come to the conclusion that hydrogen needed to be pressurized in order to be compact, were it to be used as a car fuel. However, this research shows that the process can be optimized in terms of both efficiency and economic viability.
"There will be many proposals to solve energy issues, and this may be one option. We wanted to find the most effective way to store hydrogen so that perhaps in the future, cars could use this to run longer distances and more efficiently," noted Mendoza-Cortes, lead author of the study.
The process that he proposed in the research also involves pressurizing but employs it differently compared to any prior idea. The research is based on mathematical schemes and equations, along with computer simulations, which helped design the porous materials of the transition metals. This new device could be used by placing it into the hydrogen car's tank.
Perhaps the best news about this research is that it uses materials that are abundant on our planet, which makes it usable for anyone, should it be implemented. As part of the research, the scientist tested a number of 270 compounds designed by him, in order to assess their performance for storing hydrogen.
Hydrogen Fueled Cars - Model Disadvantages
The mechanism that this invention would use involves the behavior of hydrogen in this type of environment. Since hydrogen sticks or binds to the device, more of the substance can fit into the tank, and refilling it won't be as frequent.
A number of car companies have already started employing ecologic materials in their cars. Toyota, Honda and Hyundai have already implemented the hydrogen fuel idea, in the attempt to conserve as much energy as possible.
However, there are some associated disadvantages of using hydrogen cars, such as the carbon emissions produced from natural gas, the capital cost, as well as a low energy content unit per volume. In order for these solutions to actually be viable to a larger scale, massive investments should be done in infrastructure in order to support fueling these vehicles.
