The University of Alberta researchers have accidentally discovered a new catalyst that can produce hydrogen and purify water simultaneously. The discovery was made when Robin Hamilton mixed up a combination of powders for an undergraduate student’s project, and the mixture produced hydrogen when left overnight in water.
Hamilton consulted chemistry professors Jeff Stryker and Jonathan Veinot, and the team realized they had something remarkable on their hands. The catalyst they created is made with non-toxic and abundant materials, making it an affordable and accessible alternative to current catalysts that are expensive and limited in supply.
It can also be used with any type of water, making it superior to other ways of generating hydrogen. The new catalyst-driven process also results in little oxygen, making it less volatile than current methods. The researchers are initially looking to create off-grid devices that could help remote communities or aid in disaster relief.
The new catalyst and method are being commercialised by Dark Matter Materials, a new company co-founded by Stryker and Hamilton, which has already received interest from local energy and agricultural sectors, as well as multinational companies in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Source: University of Alberta