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A journal linking all aspects of the chemical, physical and biotechnological sciences relating to energy conversion and storage, alternative fuel technologies and environmental science.
Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 210-A Seitz Hall, Blacksburg, USA
E-mail: ypzhang@vt.edu
; Fax: (+540) 231-3199
; Tel: (+540) 231-7414
b
Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Sciences (ICTAS), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA
c
DOE BioEnergy Science Center (BESC), Oak Ridge, USA
Energy Environ. Sci., 2009,2, 272-282
DOI:
10.1039/B818694D
Received
22 Oct 2008,
Accepted
16 Dec 2008
First published online
23 Jan 2009
The hydrogen economy presents a compelling future energy picture, especially for the transportation sector. The obstacles, such as low-cost hydrogen production, lack of high-density hydrogenstorage approaches, costly infrastructure, and safety concerns are prohibiting its large-scale implementation. To address the above challenges, we propose a new solution – use of starch or cellulose (C6H10O5) from biomass as a hydrogencarrier. This new solution is based on the invention of complete conversion of glucans (starch and cellulose) and water to hydrogen and carbon dioxide as C6H10O5 (aq) + 7H2O (l) → 12H2 (g) + 6CO2 (g). The production of hydrogen from carbohydrates is a nearly carbon-neutral process based on the whole carbon cycle. The use of low-cost renewable carbohydrate as a high hydrogen density carrier (14.8 H2 mass %) may solve problems such as hydrogen production, storage and distribution, as well as address safety concerns. Increasing hydrogen generation rate (power density) and decreasing costs are two major tasks prior to this technology's wide implementation. Analysis based on past scientific knowledge and technical achievements suggests that sugar-powered vehicles could become real in the future with intensive R&D efforts. Here we are calling for international R&D collaborations to pursue the holy grail of the carbohydratehydrogen economy.
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Energy & Environmental Science
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