[Graeme]

Prof may hold key to solve fuel crisis

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') University of Windsor chemistry professor may be holding the keys to hydrogen-powered vehicles of the future.

David Antonelli's breakthrough in hydrogen storage research is attracting worldwide attention -- and investment from Chrysler.

Antonelli recently signed a deal with the automaker that will give him $100,000 over two years to "optimize" a cheap way of storing hydrogen in fuel tanks at room temperature.

Antonelli has discovered a way of storing hydrogen cheaply and safely in low-pressure tanks by using a mixture of non-perishable titanium oxide powder and silica, a main component in most types of glass.

The material he's created can store large quantities of hydrogen fuel within its porous structure. Antonelli's first breakthrough was the use of titanium oxide powder and he's since discovered a way to bind hydrogen to the surface of the titanium and silica mixture.

[Judgie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Graeme', '[')b]Prof may hold key to solve fuel crisis$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') University of Windsor chemistry professor may be holding the keys to hydrogen-powered vehicles of the future. --snip-- Antonelli's first breakthrough was the use of titanium oxide powder and he's since discovered a way to bind hydrogen to the surface of the titanium and silica mixture.

[Windmills]

It sounds heavy, having a tank full of ceramics and sand. It also makes me wonder how it compares to a regular pressurized tank in terms of being able to deliver the varioius desired rates of fuel.

[Heineken]

$100,000 over two years? In the world of research, that is less than chicken feed. Which is about all that hydrogen research deserves, of course.

Looks more like a political gesture from Chrysler.

[Niagara]

Even if the storage works, what about...

production - where will the hydrogen come from? Hydrogen is not an energy source, only a carrier

infrastructure - how will hydrogen be transported to the thousands of stations across the country?

[Madpaddy]

$100,000 is one third of the cost of the windows we are putting into a building where I work.

This is a joke.

[jdmartin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Niagara', 'E')ven if the storage works, what about...

production - where will the hydrogen come from? Hydrogen is not an energy source, only a carrier

infrastructure - how will hydrogen be transported to the thousands of stations across the country?

[skyemoor]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdmartin', '
')...tell me how you're separating the hydrogen ions, and what you're using to separate them (my guess is it's natural gas and not bottled cow farts).