Brookhaven Lab creates a new catalyst with real possibilities in clean energy

In a paper published recently, researchers at Brookhaven Lab led by chemist Etsuko Fujita announced that they had found a safe and reversible way to store hydrogen under mild (and therefore hopefully much more economical) conditions, using a newly developed catalyst. The catalyst created by researchers at Brookhaven Lab connects hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide, 'storing' the hydrogen linked to (adduct to) carbon dioxide in a mildly basic solution. The reaction can be reversed -- and the hydrogen fuel released -- by adding a bit of acid. The entire process can be run, and easily reversed, in a watery solution under mild temperatures and pressures with no toxic byproducts, and at a faster rate than any previous catalyst. As a consequence, Brookhaven Lab's new catalyst might be used in future hydrogen fuel vehicles, though additional testing will be needed to see if it can be economically scaled up to industrial production. It may show up in other high powered systems too -- time and technology will tell.