Catalyst found for low-temperature release of hydrogen from methane

Nature : Hydrogen has a high energy density and produces water vapor when it burns, making it a highly desirable fuel. However, it is expensive and cumbersome to store and transport in elemental form. Many attempts have been made to trap and then release hydrogen from solid or liquid chemicals, such as methanol. The biggest difficulty lies in releasing the hydrogen from the material, which often requires high temperatures and pressures. Now, Matthias Beller of the University of Rostock in Germany and his colleagues have found a ruthenium-based catalyst that releases hydrogen gas from methanol at temperatures between 65 and 95 °C and at standard pressure. While a significant step forward, the process is far from being useful in hydrogen fuel cells for powering vehicles. The reaction in the lab has produced hydrogen on the order of only a few milliliters per minute, whereas a car’s fuel cell would need to produce roughly 24 L every second. And the reaction also creates carbon dioxide as a byproduct, which would have to be trapped as well, though it could be used for more methanol creation later.