Calcium Formate

Researchers have developed a new hydrogen energy carrier material capable storing hydrogen energy efficiently and potentially more cheaply. Each molecule can store one electron from hydrogen at room temperature, store it for up the three months, and can be its own catalyst to extract said electron. Moreover, as the compound is made primarily of nickel, its cost is relatively low. Researchers have developed a new hydrogen energy carrier material capable storing hydrogen energy efficiently and potentially more cheaply. Each molecule can store one electron from hydrogen at room temperature, store it for up the three months, and can be its own catalyst to extract said electron. Moreover, as the compound is made primarily of nickel, its cost is relatively low. In the continued effort to move humanity away from fossil fuels and towards more environmentally friendly energy sources, researchers in Japan have developed a new material capable storing hydrogen energy in a more efficient and cheaper manner. The new hydrogen energy carrier can even store said energy for up to three months at room temperature. Moreover, since the material is nickel based, its cost is relatively cheap. The results were reported in Chemistry -- A European Journal. As humanity combats the ongoing climate crisis, one avenue researchers focus on is the transition into alternative sources of energy such as hydrogen. For several decades now Kyushu University has been investigating ways to more efficiently use and store hydrogen energy in the effort to realize a carbon neutral society. "We have been working on developing new materials that can store and transport hydrogen energy," explains Professor Seiji Ogo of Kyushu University's International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research who led the research team. "Transporting it in its gaseous state requires significant energy. An alternative way of storing and transporting it would be to 'split-up' the hydrogen atoms into its base components, electrons and protons." Many candidates have been considered as possible hydrogen energy carries such as ammonia, formic acid, and metal hydrides. However, the final energy carrier had not yet been established. "So, we looked to nature for hints. There are a series of enzymes called hydrogenases that catalyze hydrogen into protons and electrons and can store that energy for later use, even at room temperature," continues Ogo. "By studying these enzymes our team was able to develop a new compound that does exactly that." Not only was their new compound able to extract and store electrons at room temperature, further investigations showed that it can be its own catalyst to extract said electron, something that had not been possible with previous hydrogen energy carriers. The team also showed that the energy could be stored for up the three months. Ogo also highlights the fact that the compound uses an inexpensive element: nickel. Until now, similar catalysts have used expensive metals like platinum, rhodium, or iridium. Now that nickel is a viable option for hydrogen energy storage, it can potentially reduce the cost of future compounds. The team intends to collaborate with the industrial sector to transfer their new findings into more practical applications. "We would also like to work on improving storage time and efficiency as well as investigate the viability of cheaper metals for such compounds, " concludes Ogo. "Hopefully our findings will contribute to the goal of decarbonization so that we can build a greener and environmentally friendly future."

KANAZAWA, Japan, June 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Kanazawa University report in ACS Nano how ultrathin layers of tin disulfide can be used to accelerate the chemical reduction of carbon dioxide - a finding that is highly relevant for our quest towards a carbon-neutral society. Recycling carbon dioxide (CO2) released by industrial processes is a must in humanity's urgent quest for a sustainable, carbon-neutral society. For this purpose, electrocatalysts that can efficiently convert CO2 into other, less impactful chemical products are widely researched today. A category of materials known as two-dimensional (2D) metal dichalcogenides are candidate electrocatalysts for CO2 conversion, but these materials also typically facilitate competing reactions, which compromises their efficiency. Yasufumi Takahashi from Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University and colleagues have now identified a 2D metal dichalcogenide that can efficiently reduce CO2 to formic acid, a compound that not only occurs naturally but also is an intermediate product in chemical synthesis. Takahashi and colleagues compared the catalytic performance of 2D sheets of disulfide (MoS2) and tin disulfide (SnS2). Both are 2D metal dichalcogenides, with the latter of particular interest because pure tin is a known catalyst for the production of formic acid. Electrochemical tests of these compounds revealed that with MoS2, instead of CO2 conversion, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was promoted. HER refers to a reaction yielding hydrogen, which can be useful when the production of hydrogen gas fuel is intended, but in the context of CO2 reduction it is an unwanted competing process. SnS2, on the other hand, showed good CO2 reduction activity and suppressed HER. The researchers also carried out electrochemical measurements for bulk SnS2 powder, which was found to have less catalytic CO2 reduction activity. To understand where the catalytically active sites are in SnS2, and why the 2D material performs better than the bulk compound, the scientists applied a method called scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM). SECCM is used as a nanopipette to form the meniscus shape nanoscale electrochemical cell for the surface reactivity sensing probe on the sample. The measurements revealed that the whole surface of the SnS2 sheet is catalytically active, not only 'terrace' or 'edge' features in the structure. This also explains why 2D SnS2 has enhanced activity compared to bulk SnS2. Calculations provided further insights into the chemical reactions at play. Specifically, the formation of formic acid was confirmed as an energetically favorable reaction pathway for when using 2D SnS2 as catalyst. The results of Takahashi and colleagues signify an important step forward towards the use of 2D electrocatalysts in electrochemical CO2 reduction applications. Quoting the scientists: "These findings will provide a better understanding and design strategies for metal dichalcogenide-based 2D electrocatalysis for electrochemical CO2 reduction to produce hydrocarbons, alcohols, fatty acids and olefins without by-products." Background Two-dimensional metal dichalcogenides Two-dimensional (2D) metal dichalcogenide sheets (or monolayers) are materials of the type MX2, with M a metal atom like molybdenum (Mo) or tin (Sn) and X a chalcogen atom like sulfur (S). The structure can be represented as a layer of X atoms on top of a layer of M atoms on top of a layer of X atoms again. 2D metal dichalcogenides belong to the so-called class of 2D materials (also including graphene), a reference to their extreme thinness. 2D materials typically have different physical properties than their bulk (3D) counterparts. 2D metal dichalcogenides have been studied for their hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalytic activity, a chemical process yielding hydrogen. But now, Yasufumi Takahashi from Kanazawa University and colleagues have found that the 2D metal dichalcogenide SnS2 displays no HER catalytic activity; instead, it is a catalyst for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to formic acid - an extremely relevant property in the context of strategies for reducing the global CO2 footprint. Reference Yusuke Kawabe, Yoshikazu Ito, Yuta Hori, Suresh Kukunuri, Fumiya Shiokawa, Tomohiko Nishiuchi, Samuel Jeong, Kosuke Katagiri, Zeyu Xi, Zhikai Li, Yasuteru Shigeta, and Yasufumi Takahashi. 1T/1H-SnS2 Sheets for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction to Formate, ACS Nano XX, XXX–XXX (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12627 URL: Image Caption: Scanning electrochemical cell microscopy experiment probing the CO2 reduction catalytical activity of a SnS2 sheet. © 2023 American Chemical Society Contact Hiroe Yoneda Senior Specialist in Project Planning and Outreach NanoLSI Administrative Office WPI Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) Kanazawa University Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan Email: [email protected] Tel: +81 (76) 234-4550 About Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Kanazawa University is a research center established in 2017 as part of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The objective of this initiative is to form world-tier research centers. NanoLSI combines the foremost knowledge of bio-scanning probe microscopy to establish 'nano-endoscopic techniques' to directly image, analyze, and manipulate biomolecules for insights into mechanisms governing life phenomena such as diseases. About Kanazawa University As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities. The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa – a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas. SOURCE Kanazawa University