SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Strategies & Market Trends : Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Dan3 who wrote (82657)8/4/2008 2:38:00 PM
From: Elroy Jetson  Read Replies (1) of 116555
 
Since the way the news of this new water electrolysis Anode was presented made little sense, I have done some more reading about it.

In short, this development simply makes electrolysis more efficient and so likely more economic than batteries.

Apparently the big news is the improved Anode uses less energy in the production of oxygen as essentially none of the electrical power is used to produce heat, and the Anode works well without an acidic electrolyte.

When splitting water with electrolysis, the hydrogen is always formed on the Cathode and oxygen in the Anode. You cannot produce hydrogen from water without also producing oxygen.

A platinum coated Cathode has always been very efficient in producing hydrogen, requiring the displacement of just one electron. But the displacement of four electrons to produce oxygen at the Anode has been the factor dragging down the efficiency of electrolysis. The Anode mimics one step used in the electron transfer method used by photosynthesis.

This process could in theory be coupled with additional steps from the photosynthesis process to make a direct electrolysis cell, but this is basically irrelevant to the current discovery - more of a communications problem between scientists and journalists.
.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News