A potential alternative to platinum in hydrogen fuel cells has been discovered by the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University. The team created light absorbing silicon pillars in a tightly packed pattern (see image above). The pillars were topped with the new platinum replacing catalyst Molybdenum sulfide. Researcher, Jens Nørskov, found this material by analyzing hydrogen producing enzymes in certain organisms. Through the process of creating hydrogen fuel from light and water is called, photo-electrochemical (PEC) water splitting, the team noticed hydrogen bubble erupting as efficiently as the platinum catalyst. As great as this is, the process quickly shuts down since oxygen is not simultaneously produced. Nørskov admits, " This is the most difficult half of the problem, and we are attacking this in the same way as we attacked the hydrogen side." Nørskov wants to create a sustainable fuel with a technology people can afford. We can all appreciate that mission.
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