Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new low-temperature approach to hydrogen production that could make the clean fuel cheaper and more practical to generate. The technique could be used both in large centralized facilities and in smaller local systems that take advantage of waste heat from major industrial operations.
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and is widely viewed as an important clean energy source. When used as a fuel, it produces only water and heat rather than carbon dioxide and other pollutants associated with fossil fuels. Hydrogen can also power fuel cells that generate electricity. Despite these advantages, around 95% of hydrogen production today still depends on fossil fuels.
New Catalyst Dramatically Lowers Hydrogen Production Temperatures
One promising way to produce hydrogen is through thermochemical water splitting, a process in which a catalyst separates water into hydrogen and oxygen. Existing thermochemical systems require extremely high temperatures. Water splitting typically occurs at 700-1000 oC, while the catalyst regeneration step often requires temperatures of 1300-1500 oC before another production cycle can begin.
