US researchers have developed a new method to convert water into hydrogen in cars. Within five years, it is hoped that cars can be powered by the new technology.
Normally, a car’s catalytic converter splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis in materials containing the expensive precious metals platinum and iridium. Now, researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology have developed a new catalytic converter made from nickel, cobalt and iron instead. It will be cheaper and should last up to 600 hours.
The technology, which is presented in the scientific journal Advanced Materials, means that it will be possible to refuel the hydrogen car with water where it is converted to hydrogen directly in the car.
If you have access to water, you already have the infrastructure to run the fuel cell vehicle of the future, for less than the cost of washing dishes in the sink, the researchers say. They believe the technology could be implemented on cars within five years.
– There are several steps before it reaches car production. First of all, the material development is very important, as is the engineering part. Material is scaling up, and then testing the material and performance. Then, it will go to the step of using it in the car itself. That is our hope, Professor Sameh Elsaidi told Illinois Tech.
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