This Device Turns Dirty Air Into Energy

Belgian scientists created a device that generates​ energy while cleaning polluted air, reports upi.com. It is made up of two chambers separated by a membrane. In one chamber the air is purified, and in the other, the pollutants are converted into hydrogen thanks to sunlight acting as the energy source.

Hydrogen can be stored and used later as fuel, as with hydrogen fuel buses. The membrane is the most important part of the device. And it is made up of nanomaterials.

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The device is made up of two chambers and a membrane. As one chamber is purifying the air the other produces hydrogen gas. Photo by University of Leuven/University of Antwerp

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"These catalysts are capable of producing hydrogen gas and breaking down air pollution. In the past, these cells were mostly used to extract hydrogen from water. We have now discovered that this is also possible, and even more efficient, with polluted air." Sammy Verbruggen explained, who is a professor at the University of Antwerp. In order to work, the device must be exposed to sunlight to unlock energy-generating chemical reactions, in a similar manner as with solar panels. The goal is to be able to use sunlight as a driving​ force in this process. Verbruggen and his colleagues are working to scale up their technology for industrial use and improve the device's efficiency even further. - Source