The whole world is turning towards carbon-free energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. In that case, the demand for hydrogen fuel is increasing. To meet that demand, researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia have been able to directly produce hydrogen fuel without alkalizing or acidifying seawater.
Professor Shizhong Qiao, co-head of the research team, said, ‘We are almost 100% successful to efficiently separate seawater into oxygen and hydrogen molecules. We have got a free and cheap catalyst in a commercial electrolyzer and we have made hydrogen through using electrolysis method.
The process of separating water into oxygen and hydrogen molecules by applying electricity is called electrolysis. Before applying the electrolysis method, seawater usually needs to be purified. The research team said, ‘Usually platinum and iridium catalysts are used to purify water. Cobalt with chromium oxide gives the same result we found using oxides.
Obtaining more hydrogen fuel from seawater than fresh water is now possible. In addition, as hydrogen fuel can be found without any purification process, the cost will also be reduced a lot.As burning hydrogen produces water, it causes no damage to the environment. Therefore, the research team’s next goal is to get a larger one increasing the amount of hydrogen fuel production through electrolyzers.
They hope, this research in future will play a role in producing commercial hydrogen fuel.
The researchers’ breakthrough opens up the possibility of low-cost carbon-free energy production in coastal areas.
