The hydrogen fuel cell is the perfect instrument to power an electric car. The burning of hydrogen in a fuel cell is perfectly clean, producing nothing but water out of the tailpipe of the car. The problem is that almost all commercial hydrogen is produced in an energy-intensive process called “steam reforming”, using methane gas from fossil sources. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. The sustainable way to produce hydrogen is through electrolysis of water. But that process requires expensive electrodes. That’s why Tesla- founder Elon Musk pushes the battery as power source for electric cars and even homes while calling the hydrogen fuel cell a “dead-end” technology. But new research out of Stanford has produced electrodes that have a considerably longer life and are cheaper to produce. This can be a game-changer for the fuel cell.
Sustainable production of hydrogen can change renewable energy revolution
More of Today's Solutions
Student Makers, a deeper dive: bringing free STEM to students on three contin...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM This article kicks off The Optimist Daily's Local Changemakers 2026 series, spotlighting changemakers 30 and under. It was ...
Read MoreMeet Vivian Ho: the 17-year-old who built a supply network around dignity, no...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM This article is part of The Optimist Daily's Local Changemakers 2026 series, spotlighting changemakers 30 and under. Most ...
Read MoreSperm-sorting tech identifies strongest swimmers to help couples conceive
In-vitro fertilization is certainly a potential avenue for couples who are having problems conceiving a child due to low-quality sperm. However, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that ...
Read MoreHow one Maine school is helping students heal in nature
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM At Morse High School in Bath, Maine, detention doesn’t always mean fluorescent lights and silent classrooms. Thanks to ...
Read More
