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A cheap, emissions-free device that uses a 1.5-volt AAA battery to split water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis has been developed by scientists at Stanford University ( http://news.stanford.edu/news/2014/august/splitter-clean-fuel-082014.html ).
Unlike other water splitters that use precious-metal catalysts, the electrodes in the Stanford device are made of inexpensive, abundant nickel and iron.
“This is the first time anyone has used non-precious metal catalysts to split water at a voltage that low,” said Hongjie Dai, a professor of chemistry at Stanford. “It’s quite remarkable, because normally you need expensive metals, like platinum or iridium, to achieve that voltage.”
http://www.kurzweilai.net/a-low-cost-water-splitter-that-runs-on-an-ordinary-aaa-battery
http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2014/140822/ncomms5695/full/ncomms5695.html
(Score: 1) by anubi on Sunday August 24 2014, @10:00AM
Hydrogen is quite a volatile fuel...
I have seen reports and would like to verify that if one places something like this electrolysis device in his car, ( powered from the alternator ) he can get a stream gaseous hydrogen and oxygen which can be piped into the air intake of the vehicle.
The object is to use the resulting "water gas" to act as a flame-front stabilizer as the spark coil ignites the gasoline air mixture. Think of it like lighter fluid is to charcoal. The idea being the hydrogen is one heckuva lot easier to start than the heavier hydrocarbons are, and using the hydrogen explosion to more uniformly ignite the heavier gasoline-air mixture - where the vast majority of the energy release will occur.
I have seen this discussed in other forums and have no idea how practical it is, however it sounds like it may have merit.
One thing about a hydrogen leak though... its going straight up, not down the street in the gutter where it will set rows of parked cars on fire as well. However, in a closed garage, I suppose that little tidbit won't make much difference - I guess the whole house will mimic the inside of the cylinder during the power stroke. I really do not like the idea of storing compressed hydrogen at home for the same reason I won't keep gasoline cans or propane tanks in the house.
Anyone heard of using propane injection on diesel engines for the same reason? I have heard it greatly increases efficiency, eliminates soot, and most of the resultant emissions gas to plain old CO2 instead of unburned hydrocarbons and underburned fuel leaving as CO. That is something I would like to tinker with one day and verify whether it does or does not, but I have been way too busy doing other things...
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]