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German battery recharges using sunlight, releases hydrogen on demand (interestingengineering.com)

submitted 1 day ago by SteveKLord@slrpnk.net to c/energy@slrpnk.net

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A new copolymer-based battery developed by researchers at Ulm and Jena universities in Germany stores energy from sunlight for days and can release it when required as green hydrogen. The battery is rechargeable, and the charge and discharge process can be activated by flipping a pH switch, a press release said.

With the focus on switching away from fossil fuels, countries are adopting large-scale solar and wind power plants. However, for applications requiring higher energy density, hydrogen is a more viable alternative. It can be burnt, much like a fossil fuel, but produces only water as a byproduct, offering a carbon-free solution for energy-intensive applications.

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[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

to combine with protons, thereby releasing hydrogen.

Yes a hydrogen ion is the same as a proton. Duh.

The article claims it is rechargeable, and release the energy as hydrogen. But after releasing hydrogen, where does the hydrogen come from for the next charge?

This article explains nothing. Also you can't just magically "change the PH value." There needs to be a process that does that, and that process is in no way explained.
Maybe the "change PH value" means adding water? IDK? But there needs to be some additional hydrogen added, otherwise it's impossible to keep releasing hydrogen.

This reeks of either bullshit or the journalist didn't understand the concept.

[–] poVoq@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 day ago

Yeah, the article isn't very good. Reading the Nature paper is seams like they use TEA as a sacrificial donor in this proof of concept, which obviously wouldn't work in an actual rechargeable battery. But the co-polymers their used are apparently similar to those often used in redox-flow batteries, so I could imaging it would be possible to build such a battery, and re-charge it by circulating the liquids through a large solar tray.

[–] SteveKLord@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 day ago

It's currently a work in progress and it's often that articles don't go into full detail on that work but it links to this this article which goes into further detail and may answer some of your questions. Constructive comments are more appreciated than cynicism