New catalyst found

[ln2]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731143345.htm

"The key component in Nocera and Kanan's new process is a new catalyst that produces oxygen gas from water; another catalyst produces valuable hydrogen gas. 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."

[ResinRat2]

Quoted from the article: "This project was funded by the National Science Foundation and by the Chesonis Family Foundation, which gave MIT $10 million this spring to launch the Solar Revolution Project, with a goal to make the large scale deployment of solar energy within 10 years."

Arrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!...................... Another TEN years to wait.

[retroworm]

This was posted few days ago. Different article on same thing.
http://www.overunity.com/index.php/topic,5272.0/topicseen.html
I can't find anything concrete how good their revolutionary system is. Just "efficient" is a bit arbitrary.

[Bulbz]

There needs to be more organisations to work on this because we don't need this technology within 10 years, we need it now.

[retroworm]

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.