New catalyst found

[christo4_99]

My personal opinion is that out of current methods, flow batteries (e.g. vanadium redox) are the best option for average home power station. They don't have the inneficiencies that electrolyzers/fuel cells have and they are safe to store, and don't degrade like conventional batteries. To my knowledge their capacity is well comparable to hydrogen tanks as well. All the technology is there, but there's lack of manufacturers.

correct me if i'm wrong...batteries are just getting smaller...(i)/we are concerned with energy sources moreso than ways to store it

[retroworm]

This thread is about storing energy. If we can't find workin OU device over here, sun is the next best thing we have. But sun doesn't always shine so you'll have to buffer some energy to keep going. Even at their finest, conventional batteries cannot compete with chemical fuels in energy density or cost. They are expensive, and degrade over time. I may seem negative here, but my gripe is that MIT is quick to make bold claims without showing anything concrete, and even if they reach that magic 100% input efficiency they still lose to flow batteries in safety, energy density per volume, output efficiency and probably initial cost.