Socioecology Research Today

Chemists have long sought to mimic enzymatic hydrogen activation with structurally simpler compounds. Here, we report a functional [NiFe]-based model of [NiFe]hydrogenase enzymes. This complex heterolytically activates hydrogen to form a hydride complex that is capable of reducing substrates by either hydride ion or electron transfer. Structural investigations were performed by a range of techniques, [...]

The objective of this study was to compare the cost of producing hydrogen by two types of biomass -gasifiers: a conventional air-blown fluidized-bed gasifier and a thermally ballasted fluidized-bed gasifier developed at Iowa State University. The ballasted gasifier is an indirectly heated gasifier that uses a single reactor for both combustion and pyrolysis. Heat accumulated [...]

A highly efficient artificial photosynthetic system employing hydrogen-terminated silicon nanowires is reported. The nanowires enable a cascading electron transfer from electron donor to NAD+ via a rhodium-based electron mediator. Approximately 80 % of NADH is photoregenerated from NAD+ by the nanowires during 2 h of light irradiation, and successfully coupled with the photoenzymatic synthesis of L-glutamate. DOI: [...]

European scientists have developed a catalyst based on cobalt that generates hydrogen from water in a simple electrochemical process using low overpotentials, with the added bonus that it can also be used to produce oxygen after anodic equilibration.The production of energy from water by hydrogen evolution may help to solve future fuel shortages but few [...]

The electrolysis of water and aqueous solutions of common salts (NaCl, Na2CO3, and Na2SO4) with renewable electricity is potentially the best pathway to move towards a hydrogen economy and sustainable environment, but its cost-effectiveness is a major challenge. This Highlight looks at hurdles and opportunities for the large-scale production of hydrogen through electrolysis. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201100789

16 July 2012: The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has announced a new database, called the Transparent Cost Database (TCDB), which collects cost and performance estimates for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The information is expected to facilitate corporate benchmarking, academic research and public decision making.The TCDB provides information [...]

Urea has been considered as a potential hydrogen source, while the conventional methods to extract hydrogen from urea are typically energy intensive processes. Here we report the first demonstration of solar driven hydrogen releasing from urea and human urine in a photoelectrochemical cell, with the assistance of Ni(OH)2 modified metal oxide photoelectrodes (e.g., TiO2 and [...]

The alkaline thermal treatment of biomass has recently been proposed as a novel method for producing high purity H2 with suppressed COx formation under moderate reaction conditions (i.e., 523 K and ambient pressure). This technology has a great potential for sustainable bioenergy production because it can handle a wide range of feedstocks including biomass and [...]

Microbial biocathodes allow converting and storing electricity produced from renewable sources in chemical fuels (e.g., H2) and are, therefore, attracting considerable attention as alternative catalysts to more expensive and less available noble metals (notably Pt). Microbial biocathodes for H2 production rely on the ability of hydrogenase-possessing microorganisms to catalyze proton reduction, with a solid electrode [...]

The potential role of molecular hydrogen (H2) as a future alternative energy carrier has generated widespread interest. The possible amount of additional hydrogen emission into the atmosphere in a hydrogen-based economy depends on future hydrogen production and leakage rates throughout the complete process chain. However, the expected emissions are highly uncertain. Based on the current [...]