From: bivalve (bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com)
Date: Mon Sep 30 2002 - 19:33:07 EDT
The latest Science reports a substantially improved catalyst for
light-induced splitting of water. Addition of carbon to the
previously known titanium oxide catalyst yielded 8.5 percent rather
than 1 percent efficiency. Ten percent is the Department of Energy
estimate for commercial viability, though the energy to make the
stuff and ease of large-scale production were not discussed in the
summary. If further work increases the efficiency of this effort, it
could provide hydrogen as a viable replacement for some uses of
petroleum-derived fuels.
Despite the favorable press that this gets as being more ecologically
firendly, water vapor is a greenhouse gas. However, buring hydrogen
probably will not have more effect than burning similar amounts of
hyrdocarbons.
Dr. David Campbell
Old Seashells
University of Alabama
Biodiversity & Systematics
Dept. Biological Sciences
Box 870345
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 USA
bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted
Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at
Droitgate Spa
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