Hydrogen fuel can be obtained from the air
Hydrogen for industrial use comes from fossil fuels or is obtained from liquid water. Both methods have major drawbacks. A device has just been developed that obtains this gas in a different way.
One of the biggest obstacles to the widespread use of hydrogen fuel is its efficient and clean production. Hydrogen for industrial use comes from fossil fuels and is contaminated with carbon-containing compounds. Purifying it is not environmentally friendly, as the byproducts are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
An alternative source is water. This is because its electrolysis can produce molecular hydrogen and oxygen. While the decomposition of liquid water is intensively studied, the analogous process for water vapor is considered less frequently. Meanwhile, the prospect of extracting hydrogen from air seems very tempting. The process depends, among other things, on the amount of water vapor it contains, and can be problematic in regions of low humidity.
This problem has been addressed by an Australian-Chinese research team. The device…
