The pink color of salt lakes is caused by salt-loving microorganisms, called halobacteria. (Credit: Image courtesy of DOE/Argonne National Laboratory)
Could be a good candidate for fabrication of green energy devices that consume virtually infinite sources — salt water and sunlight.
A protein found in the membranes of ancient microorganisms that live in desert salt flats could offer a new way of using sunlight to generate environmentally friendly hydrogen fuel, according to a new study by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy‘s Argonne National Laboratory.
Argonne nanoscientist Elena Rozhkova and her colleagues combined a pigment called bacteriorhodopsin with semiconducting nanoparticles to create a system that uses light to spark a catalytic process that creates hydrogen fuel.
Scientists have been aware of the potential of titanium dioxide nanoparticles for light-based reactions since the early 1970s, when Japanese researchers discovered that a titanium dioxide electrode exposed to bright ultraviolet light could split water molecules in a phenomenon that came to be known as the Honda-Fujishima effect. Since then, scientists have made continuous efforts to extend the light reactivity of titanium dioxide photocatalysts into the visible part of the spectrum. The promise of these photocatalysts prompted scientists to experiment with different modifications to their basic chemistry in hope of making the reaction more efficient, Rozhkova said.
“Titanium dioxide alone reacts with ultraviolet light, but not with visible light, so we used biological photoreactive molecules as a building block to create a hybrid system that could use visible light efficiently,” Rozhkova said.
Rozhkova and her colleagues turned to bacteriorhodopsin — which is responsible for the unusual purple color of a number of salt flats in California and Nevada — because it uses sunlight as an energy source that allows it to act as a “proton pump.” Proton pumps are proteins that typically straddle a cellular membrane and transfer protons from inside the cell to the extracellular space.
The Latest Bing News on:
Green Hydrogen Fuel
- TN likely to play major role in national green hydrogen missionon February 1, 2023 at 5:38 pm
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government is likely to play a major role in the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which will facilitate the transition of the Indian economy to low-carbon intensity production ...
- Showcase for Australia’s Hydrogen Dreams Suffered Gas Flameson February 1, 2023 at 4:51 pm
An investigation into a flame that erupted on a tanker carrying the first-ever liquid hydrogen shipment shortly after it was loaded in Australia last year found that a gas control malfunction on the ...
- Indian budget funds green hydrogen pushon February 1, 2023 at 1:13 pm
The Indian government announced its new budget on Wednesday, which allocates $2.4 billion to create a green hydrogen industry in the country. The fuel is considered key to moving away from fossil ...
- Seawater split to produce 'green' hydrogenon February 1, 2023 at 10:09 am
Researchers have successfully split seawater without pre-treatment to produce green hydrogen. The international team was led by the University of Adelaide's Professor Shizhang Qiao and Associate ...
- Hydrogen as a backup for renewables remains a distant propositionon February 1, 2023 at 8:14 am
Hydrogen fueled power plants could function as a back up to intermittent renewables, but it will require a lengthy coordinated effort to research and build the necessary infrastructure.
- Green hydrogen produced from seawater with nearly 100% efficiencyon February 1, 2023 at 6:40 am
Researchers have successfully split seawater to produce green hydrogen, a highly reactive fuel alternative that reduces emissions ...
- Global Green Hydrogen Market Analysis Report 2022: A $108 Billion Industry by 2031 with a Staggering CAGR of 68.9%on February 1, 2023 at 1:47 am
Global Green Hydrogen Market Global Green Hydrogen Market Dublin, Feb. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Green Hydrogen Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Application, Technology - ...
- Acwa Power plans to 'replicate' $5bn Neom green hydrogen project abroadon January 31, 2023 at 7:30 pm
Provided by The National Andrea Lovato, global head of hydrogen at Acwa Power. Chris Whiteoak / The National . Acwa Power, which is developing a $5 billion green hydrogen-based ...
- Green hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are getting tractionon January 31, 2023 at 7:54 am
Hydrogen fuel cell technology is developing and batteries are not the only game in town. Frank Lev dives into the world of hydrogen and fuel cells and finds ...
- Green aviation company ZeroAvia expanding in Boeing’s backyard with hydrogen-electric techon January 30, 2023 at 8:31 am
ZeroAvia recently grabbed headlines for successfully flying the largest aircraft to date under hydrogen and battery power. The startup’s main operations are in California and the United Kingdom — ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Green Hydrogen Fuel
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Green Hydrogen Fuel” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Green energy devices
- Amesbury rallies around young woman seriously injured by Green Line trainon February 1, 2023 at 1:49 pm
is expected to need a prosthetic device after one of her legs was damaged during an incident Friday at the Boston University Central stop on Commonwealth Avenue, according to two verified GoFundMe ...
- ‘Green hushing’ won’t help profitability. Innovation willon February 1, 2023 at 7:59 am
Insights into how a company can streamline its business process and reduce energy use are not only good for the environment but also for profitability. Companies can fulfill their sustainability goals ...
- Wolfspeed and ZF Announce Partnership for Future Silicon Carbide Semiconductor Deviceson February 1, 2023 at 6:10 am
The strategic partnership includes a joint research facility in Germany that will focus on real world e-mobility and renewable energy system level challenges. The goal of the collaboration is to ...
- Budget 2023: In green energy push, battery storage gets funding booston February 1, 2023 at 3:23 am
Battery energy storage systems are devices that enable energy from renewables like solar and wind to be stored and released when power demand peaks ...
- Do LED Masks work? Learn about the anti-aging benefits of these deviceson January 30, 2023 at 2:07 pm
LED Masks have been a “thing” for a while now. Even though they might look intimating, a few brands in the market promise remarkable skin rejuvenation. To learn more about the anti-aging benefits of ...
- Energy storage: A Global Enabler for World Energy Transition, Reported by IDTechExon January 30, 2023 at 5:52 am
The energy crisis and decarbonization requirements speed up the process of finding alternative solutions, and energy storage plays an important role in applications such as electric vehicle ...
- Fortescue sets iron ore record, Forrest talks up green futureon January 27, 2023 at 9:10 am
Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group shipped a record amount of iron ore in the December quarter as it enters a year when it plans to make its green energy dreams a reality by pressing go on ...
- Fortescue Metals Group ships record iron ore in December quarter but green energy commitments in spotlighton January 26, 2023 at 11:00 pm
Fortescue Metals Group has revealed plans to progress five green energy projects to final investment decision this calendar year but would not detail which will be the first cabs off the rank.
- Looking for Inflation Reduction Act Rebates to Go Green? Get Ready to Waiton January 26, 2023 at 10:35 am
IRA incentives for home-decarbonization devices like heat pumps and induction stoves can’t be issued until states design their own distribution systems.
- Green Ovations | The Top Three Trends Driving Canada's Adoption of Smart Home Technologyon January 25, 2023 at 1:45 pm
Smart home technology is one of the newest additions to the real estate industry, making living spaces luxurious and comfortable, while helping homeowners save money and energy. After all, what could ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Green energy devices
[google_news title=”” keyword=”green energy devices” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
