Rust + Water + Sunshine = Hydrogen

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by JamesBurke, Jul 9, 2013.

  1. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    Very interesting and almost as efficient as PV and you get O2 as a by product.

    "Tiny (nano-sized) particles of haematite (crystalline iron oxide, or rust) have been shown to split water into hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of solar energy."

    BBC News - Rust promises hydrogen power boost
     
    #1 JamesBurke, Jul 9, 2013
  2. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Now, there's something that'll put rusty, old VW Beetles to use.
     
    #2 El Dobro, Jul 9, 2013
  3. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    As well as every FIAT ever imported.
     
    #3 Air_Boss, Jul 9, 2013
  4. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    How much energy does it take to make those?
     
    #4 Former Member 68813, Jul 9, 2013
  5. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    Probably cheaper to use human fat to convert to bio-diesel. Look at home much lipids are being produced here in the good old USofA. :D
     
    #5 dipper, Jul 9, 2013
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Calling it rust isn't precisely correct. Hematite(for us Americans) is iron oxide in a crystalline structure. You won't get it from leaving a dirty shovel out in the rain.
     
    #6 Trollbait, Jul 9, 2013
  7. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    The article says 15% of the energy is captured. That sounds excellent for a novel technology, but it is still about 1/2 that of PV. I wonder which wavelengths are captured. If it was complementary to PV it might be really exciting news.

    I wouldn't get too excited about the notion that it will be cheap. Sand is pretty cheap, too :)
     
    #7 SageBrush, Jul 12, 2013
  8. 3PriusMike

    3PriusMike Prius owner since 2000, Tesla M3 2018

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    The majority of PV is about 15% efficiency.
    The high efficiency PV are about 22%.

    The ones that get about 40%, probably cost 1000x as much, and are used in satellites.

    Mike
     
    #8 3PriusMike, Jul 12, 2013
  9. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    You are I think quoting module efficiency. Cell is a good 20% higher.
     
    #9 SageBrush, Jul 12, 2013
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