Professor Yushan Yan leads a team of scientists researching HEM fuel cells as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional acid-based fuel cells.
The team regularly experienced setbacks with their hydroxide exchange membrane (HEM) fuel cells project breaking down. The team then discovered that their problem turned into an incredible opportunity.
The HEM fuel cells they developed for batteries were extremely sensitive to carbon dioxide. The batteries would regularly malfunction.
It suddenly dawned on them that the fuel cells were capturing carbon dioxide. Their accidental discovery means that they have learned how to create a very effective carbon dioxide separator.
The separator can remove CO2 from a vehicle’s exhaust and potentially work with aircraft, spacecraft, submarines, and many other applications.
Magic bullet 2-inch device cleans 2 liters of air per a minute
Professor Yushan Yan believes that prototypes with further adjustments should be able to remove 99 percent of the carbon dioxide out of the air.
His team says their soda can-sized early prototype device can filter roughly 10 liters of air per minute and removes about 98 percent of CO2.
It gets better; the team has created a device 2 inches by 2 inches that can clean approximately 2 liters of air per minute, removing up to 99 percent of CO2.
Their marvelous invention hasn’t received accolades and awards in the scientific community that perhaps it deserves as the world is increasingly moving away from fossil fuel use.
US Centre for International Environmental Law criticizes carbon capture technology
Scientists working for the US Centre for International Environmental Law have dismissed this technology as a dangerous distraction. They believe such technologies are an excuse to slow down the transition away from fossil fuel consumption.
The centre’s attitude does make you wonder what else could researchers be working on to save the planet?
