Scientists have developed a way to produce Hydrogen power on demand. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing and Tsinghua University, found a way to create a higher conversion efficiency that starts rapidly and runs quietly with the only byproduct being water.
“The researchers used an alloy — a combination of metals — of gallium, indium, tin and bismuth to generate hydrogen. When the alloy meets an aluminum plate immersed in water, hydrogen is produced. This hydrogen is connected to a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, a type of fuel cell where chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.” – Science Daily
Hydrogen has long been seen as a feasible alternative to fossil fuel use, but has had difficulty overcoming the obstacles of transportation and its slow and energy intensive on-board generation. This research could pave the way for more broad use of Hydrogen. Key remaining obstacles include the ability to recycle bismuth and optimization of heat dissipation.