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Thursday, 24th March 2005 (4130 views)

Gold is being used in a new process that allows hydrogen to be produced from water.<br/><br/>The molecules are so small they cannot be seen under a standard microscope and the research by a team at the National Nuclear Security Administration's Sandia National Laboratories is attracting attention from all around the world.<br/><br/>John Shelnutt, Sandia research team leader, told Nanotech Wire: "The broad objective of the research is to design and fabricate new types of nanoscale devices. <br/><br/>"This investigation is exciting because it promises to provide fundamental scientific breakthroughs in chemical synthesis, self-assembly, electron and energy transfer processes, and photocatalysis. Controlling these processes is necessary to build nanodevices for efficient water splitting, potentially enabling a solar hydrogen-based economy."<br/><br/>The concept is the result of Mr Shelnutt's research into the development of porphyrin nanotubes made from gold and platinum.<br/><br/>Some of the nanotubes can photocatalytically grow metal structures onto tube surfaces to help create a functional nanodevice when exposed to light.<br/><br/>For instance when nanotubes are put into a solution with gold ions and exposed to sunlight their activity causes a reduction of the ions to the metal. Using this approach, researchers have been able to deposit platinum outside a nanotubes and grow a gold nanowire inside the tube.<br/><br/>It is this tube that could split water into oxygen and hydrogen.<br/><br/>To complete the device a nanoparticle of an inorganic photocatalyst which produces oxygen needs to be attached to the gold contact ball that naturally forms at the end of the tube.<br/><br/>The gold wire and ball then serves as a conductor for the electrons and the gold conductor keeps the oxygen and hydrogen parts separate, to stop damage during operation.<img alt="track" src="http://directnews.dehavilland.co.uk/dn.gif?feedid=196&itemid=8107795"/>

 

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