Discovery puts lightweight hydrogen fuel cell step closer (Science mag.)

[jpak]

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=4bcb5007-32b8-47df-a0f4-d277a93bcfee&k=68406

Canadian scientists have discovered a new way to capture and release hydrogen, which might help overcome vexing problems with the storage of the gas seen by many as the clean energy source of the future.

The new process, which has prompted the University of Windsor chemists to file for patents in Canada and the U.S., might also reduce metal contamination in foods and medicines.

''This is a real fundamental advance, it is a completely different way to think about dealing with hydrogen,'' says chemist Douglas Stephan, head of the team which describes the chemical reaction in the journal Science today.

The new process takes up hydrogen, hangs on to it and releases it on demand, much like what happens in a rechargeable battery, he says. This might prove useful in development of lightweight fuel cells to power vehicles.

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Abstract (from this week's Science)

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/314/5802/1124

Reversible, Metal-Free Hydrogen Activation

Gregory C. Welch, Ronan R. San Juan, Jason D. Masuda, Douglas W. Stephan*

Although reversible covalent activation of molecular hydrogen (H2) is a common reaction at transition metal centers, it has proven elusive in compounds of the lighter elements. We report that the compound (C6H2Me3)2PH(C6F4)BH(C6F5)2 (Me, methyl), which we derived through an unusual reaction involving dimesitylphosphine substitution at a para carbon of tris(pentafluorophenyl) borane, cleanly loses H2 at temperatures above 100°C. Preliminary kinetic studies reveal this process to be first order. Remarkably, the dehydrogenated product (C6H2Me3)2P(C6F4)B(C6F5)2 is stable and reacts with 1 atmosphere of H2 at 25°C to reform the starting complex. Deuteration studies were also carried out to probe the mechanism.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.

Commentary (summary)

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/314/5802/1096

Perspectives

CHEMISTRY: Breaking the H2 Marriage and Reuniting the Couple

Gregory J. Kubas

A nonmetal compound enables the reversible splitting of dihydrogen. Related compounds may find use in chemical transformations and in hydrogen activation or storage.

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[Mythsaje]

1. Something I learned on the show Numbers

a few weeks ago (about how lack of storage capabilities means the power companies have to strike a delicate balance between generation and usage) prompted a conversation about this between my wife and I. We DESPERATELY need a way to store electricity that is light years above where we are now.

I LOVE seeing stuff like this.

[Porcupine]

2. Or we could all take a break when less power was available.

Maybe haveing everybody busy 24/7 is not the ideal environment for humans?

Just an idea.