- Number 423 |
- September 29, 2014
A nanosized hydrogen generator
Argonne researchers produce trace amounts
of hydrogen with visible light by merging
light-collecting proteins from a single-celled
organism with a graphene platform. Both
graphene and protein absorb the light and
re-direct electrons towards the titanium
dioxide. Electrons interact with protons at
the site of the platinum nanoparticles to
produce hydrogen. Credit: John Lambert.
Researchers at the DOE's Argonne National Laboratory have created a small scale “hydrogen generator” that uses light and a two-dimensional graphene platform to boost production of the hard-to-make element.
The research also unveiled a previously unknown property of graphene. The two-dimensional chain of carbon atoms not only gives and receives electrons, but can also transfer them into another substance.
Argonne’s early-stage generator, composed of many tiny assemblies, is proof that hydrogen can be produced without burning fossil fuels. The scale is small, a little smaller than the diameter of spider silk. Scaling this research up in the future may mean that you could replace the gas in your cars and generators with hydrogen—a greener option, because burning hydrogen fuel emits only water vapor.
Researchers have long known that some single-celled organisms use a protein called bacteriorhodopsin (bR) to absorb sunlight and pump protons through a membrane, creating a form of chemical energy. They also know that water can be split into oxygen and hydrogen by combining these proteins with titanium dioxide and platinum and then exposing them to ultraviolet light.
In order to produce greater amounts of hydrogen using visible light, the researchers looked for a new material. The new material would need enough surface area to move electrons across quickly and evenly and boost the overall electron transfer efficiency. The researchers also needed a platform on which biological components, like bR, could survive and connect with the titanium dioxide catalyst: in short, a material like graphene.
For more information, see: http://www.anl.gov/articles/nanosized-hydrogen-generator[Jared Sagoff, 630.252.5549,
jsagoff@anl.gov]
