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[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
Report from CS3 Symposium Highlights Work Toward Artificial Photosynthesis For Direct Solar Production of Liquid Transportation Fuels
November 06, 2009
Scientists are making progress toward development of an “artificial leaf” that mimics photosynthesis, but that converts sunlight and water into a liquid fuel such as methanol for cars and trucks, according to a new report summarizing the discussions from the 1st Annual Chemical Sciences and Society Symposium (CS3). However, much work remains to be done in all the component areas, as well as in the integration of the components to a viable artificial leaf.
The three-day symposium, which took place in Germany this past summer, included 30 chemists from China, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was organized through a joint effort of the science and technology funding agencies and chemical societies of each country, including the US National Science Foundation and the American Chemical Society (ACS).
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Toshiba Launches Direct Methanol Fuel Cell in Japan as External Power Source for Mobile Electronic Devices
October 23, 2009
| Dynario, fuel cartridge and consumer device. Click to enlarge. |
Toshiba Corporation launched its first direct methanol fuel-cell product: Dynario, an external power source that delivers power to mobile digital consumer products. (Earlier post.) Dynario’s performance is optimized by its hybrid structure, which uses a lithium-ion battery charged by the fuel cell to store electricity.
Dynario, together with a dedicated fuel cartridge for refueling on the go, will be launched in Japan, in a limited edition of 3,000 units only, and will be exclusively available at Shop1048, Toshiba’s direct-order web site for digital consumer products in the Japanese market. Orders will be accepted from 22 October, and shipping will start on 29 October.
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Researchers Double Activity of Platinum Catalyst in Methanol Fuel Cells by Using Surface Steps
October 19, 2009
| Left.High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy image of platinum nanoparticles on a fuel cell electrode. Right. Schematics of high-index planes observed on Pt nanoparticles. Credit: ACS, Lee at al. (2009). Click to enlarge. |
A team of researchers from MIT, the Japan Institute of Science and Technology, and Brookhaven National Laboratory have found that changing the surface texture of platinum used in a methanol fuel cell electrode—specifically, creating nano surface steps instead of using a smooth surface—can significantly increase the catalytic activity.
In a paper published online 13 October in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, they show a linear relationship between the intrinsic activity and the amounts of surface steps. Increasing surface steps on Pt nanoparticles of ~2 nm led to enhanced intrinsic activity up to 200% (current normalized to Pt surface area) for electro-oxidation of methanol.
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Swedish Energy R&D Board Awards Up To US$72M to Chemrec for BioDME and Biomethanol Demo
September 28, 2009
The Swedish Energy R&D Board will provide an investment grant for the demonstration at industrial scale of the Chemrec technology for production of the renewable motor fuels BioDME (dimethyl ether) and Biomethanol. The new plant will be built at the Domsjö Fabriker biorefinery in Örnsköldsvik. (The biorefinery Domsjö Fabriker produces specialty cellulose, lignosulfonate and ethanol at Örnsköldsvik,550 km north of Stockholm.) The investment grant of up to SEK 500 million (€49 million, US$72 million) is contingent on approval by the EU Directorate General for Competition.
Earlier this month, Chemrec broke ground on a pulp mill-integrated BioDME biorefinery demonstration plant project in Piteå, Sweden, with expected biofuel production by mid-2010. The project will demonstrate the production of BioDME using black liquor from the pulp mill as feedstock, and will also demonstrate the use of this fuel in heavy vehicles in commercial service. (Earlier post.)
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GWU Researcher Developing Efficient Solar Chemical Process for Generation of Energetic Molecules and Conversion of CO2
September 05, 2009
| (Left) Charge and heat flow in the STEP system. Colored arrows indicate the direction of heat flow (yellow arrows), electron flow (blue), and reagent flow (green). (Right) Auxiliary components to reach higher STEP temperatures and/or decrease the heat incident on the PV. Light harvesting can use various optical concentrators and beam splitters can redirect sub-bandgap radiation away from the PV onto the electrolyzer. Licht, 2009. Click to enlarge. |
Dr. Stuart Licht (earlier post) at George Washington University is developing a solar-driven process that, he says, could efficiently replace current industrial processes for the production of certain energetic molecules such as hydrogen, metals and chlorine, which are responsible for a large component of anthropogenic CO2. It can also convert captured anthropogenic CO2, generated by burning fossil fuels, to CO and O2 via high-temperature electrolysis. A paper on his work is in press for the ACS’ Journal of Physical Chemistry, C.
One third of the global industrial sector’s annual emission of 1x1010 metric tons of CO2 is released in the production of metals and chlorine. This, together with the additional CO2 from electrical generation, heating and transportation, comprise the majority of CO2 emissions.
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Nissan North America Deploys Oorja Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Packs for Material Handling Equipment
August 25, 2009
Nissan North America (NNA) has commercially deployed methanol fuel cell packs to power material handling equipment (tugs) at its Smyrna, Tenn., assembly plant. The methanol fuel cells from Oorja Protonics (earlier post) provide a more energy efficient and cost-effective battery-charging process for the 60 tugs that are used to transport thousands of vehicle parts throughout the 5.4 million-square-foot facility.
By using OorjaPac, Nissan is able to get rid of more than 70 electric battery chargers that were consuming almost 540,000 kWh of electricity annually. This will reduce Nissan’s electric bill and eliminate more than 300 tons of CO2 emissions that were being released into the atmosphere.
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New Solid Catalyst for the Direct Low-Temperature Oxidation of Methane to Methanol
August 21, 2009
A team led by Ferdi Schüth at the Max Planck Institute of Coal Research in Mülheim (Germany) and Markus Antonietti at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam-Golm (Germany) has developed a novel catalyst for the direct low-temperature oxidation of methane to methanol. A report on their work was published online 4 August in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
While methanol is again attracting attention as a possible energy source for fuel cells or as a substitute for gasoline, it requires a complex synthesis process from natural gas via a detour through synthesis gas. One interesting alternative that was earlier pursued and then abandoned is the direct low-temperature oxidation of methane to methanol. The new catalyst could spur a return to commercial development of this type of process, which could result, among other applications, in the efficient conversion of stranded natural gas on site.
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SymPowerco Corporation Acquires Majority Interests in Highline Hydrogen Hybrids and Hoss Motor Sports
July 29, 2009
| SymPowerco’s Flowing Electrolyte DMFC replaces a proton exchange membrane with a flowing electrolyte to reduce methanol crossover. Source: SymPowerco. Click to enlarge. |
SymPowerco Corporation, holder of a direct methanol fuel cell technology, has acquired 70% ownership in both Highline Hydrogen Hybrids, Inc. (HHHI) and Hoss Motor Sports, Inc. (HMSI) in an all-stock deal. The closing of the agreement completes the terms of the Letters of Intent previously announced on 11 May 2009 (HMSI) and 30 June 2009 (HHHI).
Hoss Motor Sports Inc. has designed several types of Off Road Utility Vehicles including vehicles designed specifically for Search and Rescue, Construction Sites and for Sport Utility and Off Road Enthusiast markets. Under the SymPowerco umbrella, HMSI will manufacture its advanced vehicles at HMSI’s new facility in Dumas, Arkansas.
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Researchers Propose a Renewable Energy Cycle Based on Co-electrolysis of Water and CO2 to Produce Syngas
May 21, 2009
| Schematic illustration of a generic liquid-fuel energy cycle utilizing a renewable electrical source. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Northwestern University are proposing, and have begun experimental validation of, a renewable liquid-fuel energy storage cycle based on the co-electrolysis of H2O and CO2 using a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) powered by renewable electricity to produce syngas. The syngas is then in turn converted into liquid fuels (e.g., methanol or synthetic hydrocarbons) which could be used in a direct fuel cell.
The direct fuel cell produces electricity, with water and CO2 as byproducts of the oxidation of the liquid fuel in the fuel cell. These would be captured and recycled back into the co-electrolysis process.
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Researchers Develop Process for Conversion of CO2 to Methanol Under Mild Conditions
April 16, 2009
| IBN researchers demonstrated their CO2 reduction process with dry air from a balloon, as well as a compressed air supply. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Singapore’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have developed a catalytic process for the conversion of CO2 to methanol under mild conditions (room temperature). A paper on the work was published in the 20 April issue of the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, where it was designated a “Hot Paper.”
The IBN researchers, led by Dr. Yugen Zhang, reduced CO2 with silane using a stable N-hetereocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalyst. The organocatalyst is more efficient and stable, even in the presence of oxygen, than transition-metal catalysts for this reaction, the researchers found. As a result, the CO2 reduction action can take place under mild conditions in dry air.
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Dimethoxymethane (DMM)/Diesel Blends as a Low-Cost Approach for Emissions Control
November 17, 2008
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| Relationship between NOx and smoke of the DMM blends under one set of speed and load conditions. Click to enlarge. Credit: ACS |
Researchers at Xi’an Jiaotong University in China have investigated the combustion, performance, and emissions of a direct-injection (DI) diesel engine fueled with dimethoxymethane (DMM)/diesel blends, with DMM content ranging from 0 to 50%.
Their results showed that, with no changes to the fuel injection system or modifications to the engine, smoke and CO emissions decrease and NOx remains almost unchanged, while hydrocarbons (HCs) increase. Brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) is higher (DMM has a smaller lower heating value than diesel), while thermal efficiency increases a little. A diesel engine fueled with a 30% DMM blend can deliver both satisfactory fuel efficiency and emissions levels, they conclude. A report on their study was published online 14 November in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels.
