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Science 9 September 1977:
Vol. 197. no. 4308, pp. 1050 - 1056
DOI: 10.1126/science.197.4308.1050
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Articles

Hydrogen- and Oxygen from Water

Edward A. Fletcher 1 and Roger L. Moen 2

1 Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455
2 Graduate student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455

The limitations of thermochemical energy storage devices are the limitations of Carnot devices. Entropy production entailed in product separation further limits the efficiency of thermochemical processes. Thus, high upper temperatures and few reaction steps are desirable. In this article, the one-step effusional separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen is considered. Membrane materials, design, and fabrication techniques are suggested. A parametric analysis of the process suggests that the idea is a tantalizing possibility.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)