One of the biggest problems with hydrogen is storing it and transporting it. The easiest and safest way is have it in another form like water or ammonia. The trouble is the energy it takes to release the hydrogen from the carrier.
There is need is to find less-energy-intensive catalysts to break down ammonia, which is the primary chemical in most fertilizers. Ammonia’s ability to serve as a carbon-free energy carrier for fuel cells is also very advantageous. This would give the use of hydrogen as a fuel a huge boost.
Research from the University of Delaware may have the first key to achieving this. The following article describes the accidental discovery of a catalyst that uses less materials and performs better than the original ones by orders of magnitude.
