New Method for Producing Hydrogen Discovered

Scientists at Penn State University and Virginia Commonwealth University have discovered a new method for producing hydrogen gas that relies on molecular geometry rather than electronic interactions.

The team found that water molecules (H₂O) will bind to sites located on the surface of an aluminum cluster if one of the sites acts as a Lewis acid (receives an electron) and the other acts as a Lewis base (donates an electron). The oxygen in the water will bind to the Lewis-acid site while the Lewis-base site disassociates the hydrogen. If two such Lewis-base sites are close enough, the two hydrogen atoms will join to form hydrogen gas (H₂).

Previous research indicated that interactions between atoms relied solely upon electronic properties, that is, the exchange of electrons. This discovery indicates that it is the geometry of the molecular structure in these aluminum clusters that causes this process, a method that could open up a whole new area of research based on atomic arrangement.

This process also occurs at room temperature without the need for added energy, which is the typical method for the production of hydrogen gas, also known as hydrolysis. The aluminum clusters can be reclaimed and recycled for continuous use, which could lead to new, more energy-efficient methods of industrial and commercial hydrogen production.

These results were published in the January 23rd edition of Science.

Source: ScienceDaily