• Question: Scientists predict that we will run out of oil in 50 years time do you think your reaserch will be finished by then?

    Asked by to Jemma on 19 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Jemma Rowlandson

      Jemma Rowlandson answered on 19 Jun 2014:

      Hi Jess!

      That’s a tricky one. The one thing about research is that it’s never really finished. Nothing is ever perfect, you can always try to improve it somehow.

      There are hydrogen cars out and driving around today but they are very expensive ($100,000!). The main cost of the car is from the gas cylinders used to store the hydrogen. That’s what my research is trying to do, find a cheaper way to store more hydrogen.

      I think there will lots more hydrogen cars on the road in 50 years time, I even think that we will have a better way to store them. I’m not sure if it will use my materials though, as they are very early stage research and at the moment they do not store enough hydrogen at very cold temperatures (-200 degrees!) and even less at normal room temperature.

      If we do get materials like mine working though, that’s when hydrogen cars will start becoming much cheaper and more people will be able to afford them.

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