Storing the Impossible: Hydrogen

Storing the Impossible: Hydrogen

("Thinkquest internet challenge," 2000)

The earth’s supply of gasoline is slowly diminishing along with the cleanliness. In a desperate attempt to save precious gas, scientists have been attempting to find new ways to store and use energy. One way that scientists are consistently trying out is storing hydrogen. According to Demirbas(2001), “Because hydrogen can be easily generated from renewable energy sources and water, it has great potential as an energy source” (p. 287). When using hydrogen, the product leads to zero emissions (Yocular & Olgun, 2008, p. 309). If not that, then carbon-free or carbon neutral systems are formed (Yocular and Olgun, 2008, p. 309). Alternative-energy researchers have attempted to find materials that have properties that can resemble those of sponges (Baker, 2005, p.82). This way, the materials could ‘soak in’ the hydrogen and then hold it until it is further needed (Baker, 2005, p.82). There are many ways of storing hydrogen, but what is the most effective way to store it?

In most cases, hydrogen cannot be stored by itself. Because of this, hydrogen is usually stored in forms of hydrides. One example of a hydride is called a fuel cell. Although other forms of storing hydrogen are found to be difficult, Eisenstien (2000) has found that the cell is not a very complicated device (Eisenstien, 2000, p.22). This is because all that there is to do is to pump hydrogen into one side and then pump oxygen on the other (Eisenstien, March 2000, p.22). This results to the gases combining to form energy and water vapor, which can be used to run electric motors (Eisenstien, March 2000, p.22). Another type of hydride is called a reformer. A reformer is simply a chemical pla...

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