• Question: what is the latest material you have simulated and what is it good for?

    Asked by gazzakettle24 to Michael on 14 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Michael Nolan

      Michael Nolan answered on 14 Nov 2013:

      Hi,

      good question

      1. titanium dioxide (white paint) with some tin oxide mixed into it and you can make a device with takes in light from the sun and uses that to generate electrons that can break up water into hydrogen and oxygen which is one way to make hydrogen for fuel cell applications. The nice thing about this is (1) it uses cheap, easy to get, non-toxic elements (2) no need for expensive materials like platinum or gold (3) it is easy to make and (4) initial experiments say it works 🙂

      2. titanium dioxide with some manganese oxide mixed into it (if you do chemistry, you know manganese from permanganate solution used in titrations) which takes in sunlight and can make carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas) into useful fuels like natural gas, again for free and removing a dangerous greenhouse gas.
      Experiments in the USA show that this looks like a good material.

      THese materials will allow us to move way from oil, coal and gas which are running out and either use a new fuel or obtain one we know but from a renewable and cheap source. This has big advantages all over the world by giving us low cost, good and reliable energy, a far cry from today’s situation where energy supplies are tight and expensive and running out.

      M

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