Energy
Techonologies - Hydrogen for use as Fuel Cell
Energy Source
Introduction
The question of how to supply fuel
cells with hydrogen has been a subject of intensive
research for many years. Now a group at the Tokyo Institute
of Technology has developed a high performance catalyst
that decomposes methane directly into carbon and hydrogen.
The new catalyst works more than twice as efficiently
as the group's previous efforts, producing 2 litre of
hydrogen gas per minute per gram of catalyst. Moreover,
the reaction yields hydrogen of such high purity that
it can be supplied directly to a fuel cell without worry
of impurities degrading the fuel cell's electrodes.
The new catalyst is made from a mesh of thin carbon
fibers studded with nanoparticles of a nickel compound.
When methane gas flows through the mesh at a temperature
of around 500 oC (932 F), the carbon and hydrogen atoms
that make up the methane molecules separate. The carbon
atoms accumulate as protrusions on the mesh, leaving
the hydrogen gas free for use as a fuel cell energy
source. The carbon can be utilized in reinforced plastics.
Main Application:Energy
Contact for more information:
Science & Technology Wing Embassy of India
2-2-11, Kudan Minami, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-0074, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3262-2391 to 97,
Fax: +81-3-3234-4866
E-mail: tandonus@hotmail.com
