Gold nanoparticles could hold the key to the development of highly-efficient fuel cells that convert alcohol into energy.
Glycerol is a kind of alcohol with some very attractive properties as a potential energy source. It’s renewable, non-toxic and energy-dense, and much safer to use than hydrogen or fossil fuels. Scientists have demonstrated that it’s possible to oxidise (burn) glycerol in a fuel cell to produce energy. The problem is that so far, the process is just too slow.