What if we could turn polluted water into clean hydrogen energy? Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have developed a way to do just that using a material that removes urea from water.
You may associate urea with urine, but it’s also a common fertilizer that runs off into waterways. This causes environmental harm, but urea has potential as an energy source thanks to its hydrogen content. The trouble is extracting that hydrogen efficiently.
Enter the WPI team led by Professor Xiaowei Teng. They created a catalyst made from nickel and cobalt that essentially filters urea out of water. Even better, it converts the recovered urea into hydrogen gas that can generate electricity!
Previous attempts at urea electrolysis haven’t been very selective, resulting in unwanted water oxidation. But Teng’s group optimized the catalyst’s structure down to the atomic level. The nickel and cobalt components interact synergistically, with unique electronic configurations that enhance electrochemical activity.
This breakthrough was no accident. The researchers employed computational models to guide the experimental work. Simulations revealed how the catalyst’s molecular composition facilitates bonding with urea and water molecules in just the right proportions.
The applications could be far-reaching. Urea fertilizer is mass produced globally, with tons of the stuff entering waterways. Teng’s catalyst offers a way to filter urea runoff while transforming it into sustainable hydrogen fuel. Talk about a win-win!
We still have work ahead before this lab bench technology reaches real-world ecosystems. But the study, published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, sets the stage to revolutionize water treatment and energy production. It’s all part of the water-energy nexus, where solutions in one area enhance sustainability across the board.
