A scanning electron microscopy image (300X) shows the size of glass microspheres produced for hydrogen storage in research conducted by Dr. James Shelby and associates. From poster "Photo-Induced Hydrogen Outgassing of Glass," given by Douglas Rapp at the American Ceramics Society Fall Glass and Optical Materials Division Meeting held October 12-15, 2003 in Corning, NY
AU Hydrogen Research
Fuel cell and hydrogen related research being done at Alfred University.
2006 CEER Research
The objective of the project, 'Recovery and Purification of Hydrogen from Mixed Gas Streams', under the direction of Dr. James Shelby, is to "demonstrate that very high purity hydrogen can be efficiently recovered from mixtures with methane and other gases by absorption into hollow glass micro spheres (HGMS) held in a diffusion tube, and that this gas can be released from the HGMS on demand".
Dr. Scott Misture is conducting research to "demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing gas separation membranes using a well-established and low-cost glass-ceramic process". The proposed work, 'Novel Glass-Ceramic Gas Separation Membranes', "has the potential to become a new breakthrough technology that is easily adapted to multilayer or composite membranes that are commercially viable".
Dr. Doreen Edwards and Dr. Scott Misture are investigating photocatalysts for use in hydrogen production from water as well as in waste and air remediation. 'Nanoscale Layered Photocatalysts', and 'Tunneled Titanate Photocatalysts for Environmental Remediation and Hydrogen Generation'.
Alfred Assists on Biomass Gasification Project
Dr. Thomas Seward, Professor of Glass Science at Alfred University, is participating as a co-researcher with Dr. David Rue of the Gas Technology Institute, in research on "Engineering New Catalysts for In-Process Elimination of Tars" in biomass gasification, which received funding in July 2004 from the DOE. The proposal states, "... our focus in the proposed work is to address the economical production of superior in-bed fluidized tar-cracking (TC) catalysts to increase hydrogen yield and reduce the overall cost of hydrogen production with biomass gasification."
2004 CEER Grants Focus on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
CEER has focused its recent graduate research projects on research involving materials for fuel cells, hydrogen generation and storage, and renewable energy to leverage Alfred’s strengths in ceramic/glass engineering. Successful projects to date include the demonstration of glass materials for storing and releasing hydrogen for fuel cells, and an assessment of the environmental impact of fuel cell power generation systems. Both of these projects have progressed to outside support, including a $2.2 million contract from DOE for a continuation of the work on glass materials for storing and releasing hydrogen.
Each of the three research grants awarded by CEER in 2004 has a focus on hydrogen and fuel cells:
The project, under the direction of Dr. James Shelby and Dr. Matthew Hall, will build on previous research supported by CEER showing photo-enhanced hydrogen diffusion through glasses doped with optical activators. Development of a working hydrogen gas storage device now requires the production of hollow glass microspheres (HGMS) of the appropriate compositions. Once appropriate HGMS have been produced, they will be used to determine the kinetic parameters that control the design of a working hydrogen generator. DOE recently approved $2.2 million in funding for a continuation of the previous project. For more information about the project, click here.
Nanostructured C6B: A Novel Boron Rich Carbon for H2 Storage
Dr. Linda Jones is leading a team of researchers from Alfred and other institutions in work to synthesize a novel carbon, C6B, and measure H2 adsorption and the mechanisms of adsorption. The objective of the research is for the synthesis of these novel carbons to be scaled to allow for a commercially viable and responsive H2 storage material. on the project.
Interaction Of Sealing Glasses With Metallic Interconnects In Solid Oxide And Polymer Fuel Cells
Dr. Scott Misture is directing the research to establish the fundamental materials behavior during the interaction of the sealing glass with metal interconnects. The study will focus on the fundamental phase equilibria, reaction mechanisms, and reaction kinetics under oxidizing and reducing atmospheres to provide the basic science to aid fuel cell design and future materials compositional design work. is the principal investigator on the project. For more information about the project, click here.
These projects are funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
CEER is funded
in large part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
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