Scientists achieve breakthrough in nanocomposite for high-capacity hydrogen storage
Sunday, March 13, 2011 - 13:30
in Physics & Chemistry
Since the 1970s, hydrogen has been touted as a promising alternative to fossil fuels due to its clean combustion unlike hydrocarbon-based fuels, which spew greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants, hydrogen's only combustion by-product is water. Compared to gasoline, hydrogen is lightweight, can provide a higher energy density and is readily available. But there's a reason we're not already living in a hydrogen economy: to replace gasoline as a fuel, hydrogen must be safely and densely stored, yet easily accessed. Limited by materials unable to leap these conflicting hurdles, hydrogen storage technology has lagged behind other clean energy candidates.