'Salted' catalysts for chemical energy storage: Basic alkali-metal salts improve catalyst for methanol steam reforming
Friday, April 19, 2013 - 06:30
in Physics & Chemistry
(Phys.org) —The storage of hydrogen in the form of methanol is a highly promising method for using excess energy produced by wind and solar power plants. However, this technology requires an effective catalyst for regenerating the hydrogen. German scientists have now introduced a new platinum catalyst for this reaction, known as the steam reforming of methanol, in the journal Angewandte Chemie. The secret of their success lies in a special coating made from molten basic alkali metal salts.