Transforming hydrogen into a low-flammable liquid: EPFL researchers are bringing the last element to their complete solution to manage the storage and transport of the fuel of the future. Their work is published in "Nature Communications".
Hydrogen is the fuel of the future. But this clean gas, which releases only steam, remains highly explosive. It must be stored and transported under pressure in bulky containers. This not very docile character poses problems of security, logistics and profitability which strongly hamper its use.
The solution may lie in the work of EPFL researchers.
The latter have developed a simple system, based on two chemical reactions: the first transforms hydrogen into a liquid that is easily storable and less flammable than gasoline – formic acid – while the second does exactly the opposite. and releases hydrogen. Thus transformed, the gas can be stored simply and without risk. Another possible application: using atmospheric CO2, responsible for the greenhouse effect, to synthesize many chemical products.
Very interesting article for the storage of energy in liquid H2 ...
Link : http://www.enerzine.com/14/17351+lhydrogene-devient-un-carburant-liquide-grace-au-co2-atmospherique+.html