Jerry Woodall, a Purdue University engineer, has developed a method to generate hydrogen from water using an aluminum alloy. He discovered this in 1967 working as a researcher in the semiconductor industry.

"I was cleaning a crucible containing liquid alloys of gallium and aluminum," Woodall said. "When I added water to this alloy - talk about a discovery - there was a violent poof. I went to my office and worked out the reaction in a couple of hours to figure out what had happened. When aluminum atoms in the liquid alloy come into contact with water, they react, splitting the water and producing hydrogen and aluminum oxide."

The gallium is critical to the process because it hinders the formation of a skin normally created on aluminum's surface after oxidation. This skin usually prevents oxygen from reacting with aluminum, acting as a barrier. Preventing the skin's formation allows the reaction to continue until all of the aluminum is used.

He envisions a future where we drive cars with tanks of water. When we need hydrogen for our fuel cell powered engine a small pellet of aluminum alloy is dropped into the water tank to generate the hydrogen on demand. Sounds nice.



On a personal but blog-related note, my ability to report on podcasts will be severely impaired over the coming 6-8 weeks. My iPod, which has been sickly for over a year now, as some of you may have known although I doubt most would notice because he hides the pain so well, has begun what I am afraid are the last throes of his ultimate demise. (If only I could get Dick Cheney to announce it to the nation my iPod might actually last another 3 years.) The lapse in coverage is due to the time it will take to raise funds (spending money for Ecuador takes precedence) and to find a suitable replacement. I apologize for an inconvenience.

Farewell iPod. I loved you and then you broke.