Artificial intelligence has achieved a significant breakthrough in an unexpected area: the production of green hydrogen. This type of hydrogen, called "green" because its production through electrolysis uses energy from renewable sources like solar or wind, has gained prominence in the energy transition of many countries. The electrolysis process separates the elements of the water molecule (hydrogen and oxygen), and since it doesn't involve fossil fuels, it avoids the emission of greenhouse gases. However, this process faces important challenges that AI has begun to address.
AI Intervention
One of the main obstacles to electrolysis is the high demand for electricity and the need for rare and expensive metals to act as catalysts. This limitation motivated a team of researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada to use AI to find a solution that would allow for more efficient and cost-effective green hydrogen production.
The approach of these scientists was to develop an AI system capable of virtually simulating and analyzing thousands of metal combinations, with the goal of finding an alloy that could replace the traditional metals used in the electrolysis process. AI managed to simulate and analyze more than 36,000 combinations of metal oxides, a task that would have been impossible to perform manually.
Finally, AI identified a promising combination of ruthenium, chromium, and titanium in specific proportions that could significantly improve the efficiency of the electrolysis process. When this new alloy was tested in the lab, the researchers found that it was 20 times more stable and durable than the alloys previously used.
Towards a More Efficient Future
Although the results are encouraging, it's important to note that this technology is still in the experimental phase and needs to be validated under real-world conditions outside the laboratory. Nonetheless, this breakthrough demonstrates how artificial intelligence is beginning to play a crucial role in research areas where, until recently, its impact was unimaginable.
The success of this research could mark a turning point in the production of green hydrogen, making it more accessible and sustainable, and solidifying its role in the transition to cleaner and safer energy sources.
