Rice University develops new catalyst that uses light, not heat, to produce green hydrogen

[Caribbeans]

From left: Naomi Halas, Peter Nordlander and Yigao Yuan

Rice develops new catalyst that uses light, not heat, to produce green hydrogen

InterestingEngineering.com | Nov 11, 2024

Hydrogen, a clean-burning, powerful, and versatile energy commodity, could be crucial in transitioning to a sustainable energy ecosystem.

However, the chemical process for over half of global hydrogen production significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

To curb this, researchers at Rice University have developed a catalyst that could make steam methane reforming (SMR) completely emissions-free by utilizing light instead of heat to drive the reaction.

SMR is a chemical reaction that generates hydrogen and carbon monoxide from natural gas and other methane sources.

Using light instead of heat

The research could be essential for prolonging catalyst lifetimes, enhancing efficiencies, and lowering costs in various industrial processes affected by coking, a type of carbon buildup that can deactivate catalysts...

...This process produces hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which are valuable feedstocks for the chemical industry and do not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions...more
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/new-catalyst-uses-light-hydrogen

1 year ago:

[thatdemguy]

1. Except carbon monoxide is burned as fuel and produces carbon dioxide.

NT.

Hydrogen is nothing but in effect a battery, takes energy to make at a loss. Splitting nat gas also makes co2, even if the intermediate step is CO. Again at a loss, every change is a net loss of energy.

eta Producing one tonne of hydrogen through this process ( methane conversion ) emits 6.6–9.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide with a loss of 26% of the energy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_production

[lapfog_1]

2. Hollywood already made the film

1996's Chain Reaction with Keanu Reeves and Morgan Freeman.