NASA Tech Briefs Insider Blog

Sugar - to - Hydrogen Technology Could Lead to Fuel Independence

Researchers at Virginia Tech, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the University of Georgia have proposed using polysaccharides, or sugary carbohydrates, from biomass to directly produce low-cost hydrogen for the new hydrogen economy.

According to the DOE, advances are needed in four areas to make hydrogen fuel an economical reality for transportation: production, storage, distribution, and fuel cells. Most industrial hydrogen currently comes from natural gas, which has become expensive. Storing and moving the gas, whatever its source, is costly and cumbersome, and even dangerous. And there is little infrastructure for refueling a vehicle.

Using synthetic biology approaches, the researchers are using a combination of 13 enzymes never found together in nature to completely convert polysaccharides (C6H10O5) and water into hydrogen when and where that form of energy is needed. Polysaccharides are used by plants for energy storage and building blocks and are very stable until exposed to enzymes. Just add enzymes to a mixture of starch and water and “the enzymes use the energy in the starch to break up water into only carbon dioxide and hydrogen,” said Y.H. Percival Zhang, assistant professor of biological systems engineering at Virginia Tech.

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Led by the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at The University of Nottingham (U.K.), a research team is using thermoacoustic technology for the first time to convert biomass fuels into energy to power a combination stove, refrigerator, and generator. Part of the ~$4M SCORE (Stove for Cooking, Refrigeration, and Electricity) project, the research will address the energy needs of rural communities in Africa and Asia, where access to power is extremely limited.

The concept of the proposed device is based on proven thermoacoustic engines and refrigerators developed for applications such as combustion-fired natural gas liquefaction and radioisotope-fueled electric power generation. Thermoacoustics refers to the generation of sound waves through the non- uniform heating of gas. Using this technology is a more efficient way of using wood as a fuel than using an open fire to cook.

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Scientists at the University of New South Wales (UNSW, Sydney, Australia) developed a process to boost the efficiency of solar cell technology that also lowers the total cost. The UNSW researchers deposited a thin film of silver onto a solar cell’s surface and then
heated it to 200 degrees Celsius. This broke the film into tiny “islands” of silver that boosted the cell’s light-trapping ability. The advance could see the price of an installed solar system for an average house fall from around $20,000 to $15,000 (Australian).

“Most thin-film solar cells are between eight and 10% efficient,” said Dr. Kylie Catchpole, a co-author of the study, “but the new technique could increase efficiency to between 13 and 15%.”

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Technical assistance is needed for the manufacture of serrated, scalloped (concave), and wavy (convex) bandknife blades. Of interest are 14 and 16 TPI (teeth per inch) by blanking for the serrated edge. Blanking has been achieved for the scalloped edge, but the resulting shape is not satisfactory. Blanking was not achieved for the wavy edge utilizing the current machine. To respond to this Tech Need, click here.

Screen-printing, foil-stamping, or laser-marking methods are needed to engrave permanent markings on stainless steel. The method will be used on both flat surfaces and curvatures. The visibility of the engravings must be clear and prominent. The method will be used on stainless steel dining ware and cups/mugs. To respond to this Tech Need, click here.

The Technology Needs of the Week are anonymous requests for technology, distributed through the yet2.com marketplace, that you and your organizationmay be able to fulfill. Responding to a Tech Need is the first step to gaining an introduction with a prospective “buyer” for your technology solution.

Researchers at Saint Louis University (St. Louis, MO) have developed a biodegradable fuel cell battery that runs on virtually any sugar source, from soft drinks to tree sap, and has the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium ion batteries. If the battery continues to show promise during further testing and refinement, it could be ready for commercialization in three to five years.

“This study shows that renewable fuels can be directly employed in batteries at room temperature to lead to more energy-efficient battery technology than metal-based approaches,” said study leader Shelley Minteer, PhD, an electrochemist at St. Louis University. “It demonstrates that by bridging biology and chemistry, we can build a better battery that’s also cleaner for the environment.”

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