The future of the clean-fuel hydrogen economy lies in carrying the alternative energy substance in liquid state, argues Robert Crabtree of Yale University, New Haven.
This method would ensure that cars running on fuel cells, which run on hydrogen and oxygen, could fill-up at fuel stations using roughly the same liquid-fuel infastructure that already exists and is commonplace in our everyday lives. There would also be no need for totally new distribution networks and fuel delivery systems as a result.
Crabtree, who recently told of his work developing nitrogen-packed organic liquids that hold and release hydrogen, said briefly, $quot;By using a liquid, we simplify the engineering.$quot;
Most of the research into hydrogen storage to date has focused on materials called hydrides and metal-organic-frameworks (MOF’s), incredibly porous materials that can be packed with gas. These are not without difficulties however, as getting enough hydrogen into these frameworks to make a fuel tank of reasonable size and weight is problematic and getting the fuel in and out would require innovative fueling systems.
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