Inexpensive catalyst for producing hydrogen under real-world conditions found

How many times have you heard the expression, "Hydrogen is the fuel of the future"?

This seems attractive at first: hydrogen is abundant on the Earth.  Water is  H₂O. I.e. each molecule contains  2 hydrogen atoms & one oxygen atom.  Split water for an unlimited supply of  hydrogen.  Energy problems solved.

Well, not quite.  Splitting water requires large amounts of electricity.  More energy than will be released by using the hydrogen produced, as fuel.

Alternatively, a catalyst would allow water to be split using less energy.  Problem here is that the catalyst which would work is platinum.  Very expensive.

Now researchers have created an inexpensive catalyst which promises to make the process economically viable.

http://www.gizmag.com/cambridge-hydrogen-cobalt-catalyst/25723/ / fuel platinum pH neutral water oxygen platinum cobalt room temperature transition alternative energy sources solar water splitting device H₂ O₂ clean fuel oxygen /