http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oxygen-0731.html
"The new catalyst consists of cobalt metal, phosphate and an electrode, placed in water. When electricity -- whether from a photovoltaic cell, a wind turbine or any other source -- runs through the electrode, the cobalt and phosphate form a thin film on the electrode, and oxygen gas is produced.
Combined with another catalyst, such as platinum, that can produce hydrogen gas from water, the system can duplicate the water splitting reaction that occurs during photosynthesis.
The new catalyst works at room temperature, in neutral pH water, and it's easy to set up, Nocera said. "That's why I know this is going to work. It's so easy to implement," he said."
I am going to try to get more details on the process.
Dave you are the "Real Deal" you don't give up!
Speaking for myself I appreciate your work and admire your efforts.
Thank you
Be Well
Tinker
Hi Tinker,
Thanks for the compliment, but when you look at it I really haven't accomplished much. Just repeating Linnard's work.
I am searching for a way to use the actual mechanism of photosynthesis to produce hydrogen.
Link to a patent application that is probably earlier work related to this latest press release. Plenty of detail and writing, but not much to design a home experiment off of:
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/fetch.jsp?SEARCH_IA=US2002006291&DBSELECT=PCT&C=10&TOTAL=4&IDB=0&TYPE_FIELD=256&SERVER_TYPE=19-10&ELEMENT_SET=B&START=1&SORT=41244340-KEY&QUERY=%28PA%2FDaniel+AND+PA%2FG.+AND+PA%2FNocera%29+&RESULT=3&DISP=25&FORM=SEP-0%2FHITNUM%2CB-ENG%2CDP%2CMC%2CAN%2CPA%2CABSUM-ENG&IDOC=1177068&IA=US2002006291&LANG=ENG&DISPLAY=DESC
Still searching.
I look forward to your findings as I know you dont like to give up until you have the answers!
Mark
G'day Dave and all,
Thanks for pointing this one out to us. I have difficulty understanding it though.
It says:
MIT researchers have developed a new catalyst, consisting of cobalt metal, phosphate and an electrode. When the catalyst is placed in water and electricity runs through the electrode, oxygen gas is produced. When another catalyst is used to produce hydrogen gas, the oxygen and hydrogen can be combined inside a fuel cell, creating carbon-free electricity to power a house or an electric car, day or night.
Where I am stuck is what happens to the hydrogen when oxygen is produced and why the need for a second catalyst?
I would have thought that when you rip oxygen out of water hydrogen remains. since it has nowhere else to go.
I must be missing something here.
Hans von Lieven