Generating hydrogen and oxygen from water with blood components

[BadgerKid]

"Scientists combine two molecules that occur naturally in blood to engineer molecular complex that uses solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen"
...
This molecular complex can use energy from the sun to create hydrogen gas, providing an alternative to electrolysis, the method typically used to split water into its constituent parts. The breakthrough may pave the way for the development of novel ways of creating hydrogen gas for use as fuel in the future.


http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_1-12-2006-11-4-23?newsid=3016

[Warpy]

1. This just gets better and better

Perhaps in the not too distant future we'll see fuel cell housings next to those central AC units in the back yard, fuel cells that use hydrogen and oxygen derived from sunlight during the day, powering the house at night.

PBS had a program featuring a prototype of such a house using PVC panels.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Not the most economical choice of materials, but this is a REAL breakthrough.

Direct photoconversion of H2O to H2 and O2 has been pursued by many, MANY groups for the last few decades. Hopefully, this will point the way to more practical systems for accomplishing this.