Graphene origami cube for efficient hydrogen energy storage. (via ACS)
Who would have thought that the ancient Japanese art of origami would help design an efficient way to store hydrogen energy? Back in 2011, the US Department of Energy initiated a three-year project to advance hydrogen energy storage for more efficient fuel cells. Engineers from the University of Maryland have made a breakthrough in this area using the one-atom thick material graphene, some hydrogen atoms and the art of paper folding. Known as HAGO (Hydrogenation-assisted Graphene Origami), the team created their efficient hydrogen storage cube using the thinnest material known to man, which is laid-out like a cardboard box before its folded together.
While graphene is noted for being incredibly strong, its electrical properties are literally, what keeps the box together. The team noted that when an electrical charge is passed through the material it would bind itself together going essentially from a 2D format to a 3D object based on the design. Obviously, when the electric current is shut off the box will unfold itself back into its original shape. This process, along with the material strength, allowed the researchers to pack in more hydrogen atoms with more efficiency over techniques currently being employed. In the DOD’s projections for their hydrogen storage efficiency goals - by 2017 the packing standards should be 5.5% hydrogen by weight and stretched to 7.7% by the year 2020. The University of Maryland’s ‘Graphene Nanocage’ has surpassed both those goals in a short amount of time with an incredible 9.5% hydrogen by weight! While the cubes have not been implemented into a functioning fuel cell as of yet, the possibility of designing one to power everything from vehicles to mobile devices are not that far off and could be the standard by the year 2020.
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