Production of hydrogen fuel will be maybe markedly cheap.
Team of scientists from Norheastern University and National Unstitute of Standards and Technology (NIST) public in magazine Journal of Materials article about luck discovery, which can markedly cheap photocatalytic cells – facilities, which fold-out water on hydrogen and oxygen by sun shining. Research of the cells is allowed to be possible way to accumulation solar energy.
Scientists detect the remains of kalium, which stays on the top of nanotubes from titan oxide after production, increase three times effectiveness of facilities in comparison with its parallel without content of kalium. They discovered, when tried find new way to integration of carbon to the titan nanotubes, which make electrodes and rise their ability absorb light from visibility part of spectrum (titan absorbs mainly UV rails). They discovered under electron microscope that atoms of kalium integrated randomly into the surface of tubes with diameter approximately 90 – 100 nanometers have unexpected effect. Mechanism of effect of kalium was not scientifically rationalized. If will be possible get the process under control, can it means the people on the earth are on the way to the technology, which can change solar energy to the valuable fuel, which is possible get in stock and using of this fuel don’t get up greenhouse effect.
Titan isn’t too much exotic element. Using of its combination like white pigment expanded. Titan is for example in tooth-pasta or in sun cream, too. Thirty-five years ago Japan scientist Akira Fudzhishima recognized that titan can be use to fotocatalyze of water. From the time scientists tries different ways to optimalize the process and make it useful for business. Because of using special sensual x-ray spectroscope was discovered that minimal concentration of kalium can make the process of fotocatalyse more effective by marked way. Scientists are working on mapping of effect of kalium to control its role and to nearing cheaper cells.