Friday, November 20th, 2009

Chemistry And Personal Solar Power

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MIT researchers have developed a new catalyst, consisting of cobalt metal, phosphate and an electrode, that aids in the electrolysis of water. Photo by Tom White, MIT.

What if solar power was more practical at the personal level? In this segment, we'll talk with an MIT chemist working on ways to improve solar energy. His lab has created a catalyst that can aid in the hydrolysis of water, producing oxygen and hydrogen for use in fuel cells. The researchers say that such a catalyst could make it simpler to store solar energy.

Guests

Daniel Nocera
The Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy and Professor of Chemistry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Segment produced by:Charles Bergquist

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