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Event Detail Information

Event Detail Information

Sustainability Seminar series - Splitting any kind of water with global-scale, earth-abundant, light, recyclable metals to make hydrogen, heat, and potable water on demand.

Speaker Dr. Jerry Woodall - National Medal of Technology Laureate, Epstein Distinguished Professor of ECE, Purdue University
Date Apr 5, 2012
Time 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm  
Location Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, One E. Hazelwood Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
Cost Free
Sponsor Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
Contact Nancy Holm
Phone 217-244-3330
Event type seminar
Views 3677
Any future successful global-scale energy technology must satisfy three criteria: (1) be indefinitely recyclable, (2) be capable of safe energy storage, and (3) be capable of safe transport. We believe that an aluminum based energy technology can satisfy these criteria. First, even though the current Al industry does not practice large scale recycling, there are no barriers to do this. Also, Al metal and its oxides and hydroxides are already safely transported. However, in spite of the good mass energy density and very high volumetric energy density of Al, it is not yet part of the energy storage leg of the criteria triangle. We show both theoretically and experimentally that Al meets all the conditions of a successful energy technology. Specifically we can make bulk, Al rich alloys that will split any kind of water to make hydrogen, heat and recyclable aluminum hydroxide. This breakthrough has opened a new pathway to finally realize a hydrogen energy economy. As an example, it will enable feasible solar and wind energy technologies by using the intermittent electricity generated by solar cells and wind turbines to reduce aluminum hydroxides back to aluminum by fused salt electrolysis. Once you have plentiful hydrogen and heat you can have sustainable remote power and potable water. This seminar will be broadcast live on the ISTC website www.istc.illinois.edu and also archived there for later viewing.