In a new research that has potential to change the world, the researchers have decoded the nature’s way of photosynthesis to develop a method to produce Hydrogen from water. If all goes well, it will be the solution to global energy supply. The researchers claim that the method will establish Hydrogen as a cheap, pollution-free and effective fuel.
Unlike fossil fuels, Hydrogen is capable to produce energy without producing harmful emissions. Hydrogen is also sufficiently available on the Earth.
Earlier to this scientists use electrolysis method to separate Hydrogen and Oxygen from water. The method is costly and requires electricity. Also there is continuous threat to explosion, because Hydrogen and Oxygen are separated at the same time. Scientists have been trying for years to separate Hydrogen and Oxygen from water at different times to make it more cost-effective and explosion-free.
Scientists at the Scotland-based University of Glasgow have published a journal in Nature Chemistry on how they have imitated photosynthesis to separate Hydrogen and Oxygen from water at different times and at different locations. They have utilized Electron-Coupled Proton Buffer technique to collect and store Oxygen while electrolysis is in process. This way, Oxygen is released first and then Hydrogen can be released later when required. This new method of electrolysis takes longer time but is safer, cost-effective and consumes less electricity.
Dr. Mark Symes, one of the author of the journal said :
What we have developed is a system for producing Hydrogen on an industrial scale much more cheaply and safely than is currently possible. Currently much of the industrial production of Hydrogen relies on reformation of fossil fuels, but if the electricity is provided via solar, wind or wave sources we can create an almost totally clean source of power.
Professor Lee Cronin, the other author of the journal said :
The existing gas infrastructure which brings gas to homes across the country could just as easily carry Hydrogen as it currently does methane. If we were to use renewable power to generate Hydrogen using the cheaper, more efficient decoupled process we’ve created, the country could switch to Hydrogen to generate our electrical power at home. It would also allow us to significantly reduce the country’s carbon footprint.