US military discovers a powder that can be used by soldiers to quickly charge up equipment on the frontline
- Army scientists were testing ways to lighten the load created by batteries
- They found their experimental material was generating electricity in water
- This process called hydrolysis breaks down water into it oxygen and hydrogen
- Hydrogen that is given off can be used in a fuel cell to power electronic gadgets
- They tested their material by powering a radio-controlled tank around the lab
Modern armed forces are increasingly reliant on electronic devices in battle and an accidental discovery could help to power their efforts.
US Army scientists were testing ways to lighten the load created by batteries, which are often as heavy as the equipment they keep charged.
The researchers found one of their experimental materials was generating high amounts of electricity when in contact with water.
The revelation could provide new ways for soldiers to power equipment on the battlefield as well as commercial products to power our electronic gadgets.
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US Army scientists found one of their experimental materials was generating high amounts of electricity when in contact with water. They proved the potential of their powder by using it to power a small radio-controlled tank around their laboratory (pictured)
They soon realised the reaction was the product of hydrolysis, a process which breaks down water into it its constituent parts of oxygen and hydrogen.
The hydrogen that is given off can be used in a fuel cell.
And the team put this principal into practice by powering a small radio-controlled tank with the powder and water reaction.
Moments after mixing the powder with a small amount of water, a bubbling reaction produced a great deal of hydrogen, which was then used to power the model around the laboratory.
Dr Anit Giri, a physicist with the lab's weapons and materials research directorate, said: 'We all as a team were very excited and ecstatic that something good had happened.
'We have calculated that one kilogram (2.2 lb) of aluminum powder can produce 220 kilowatts of energy in just three minutes.
'That's a lot of power to run any electrical equipment.
'These rates are the fastest known without using catalysts such as an acid, base or elevated temperatures.'
Scientists have known for a long time about this property of aluminium and many school chemistry lessons demonstrate the process in action.
This usually involves the use of a catalyst, including electricity, heat or additional chemicals, to trigger the process.
Army scientists discover material offering new energy source
The discovery that their man-made nanomaterial produces this reaction without any provocation surprised the research team.
But they soon realised its potential implications for future power and energy applications.
Scott Grendahl, a materials engineer and team leader, added: 'What we discovered is a mechanism for a rapid and spontaneous hydrolysis of water.
'We just take our material, put it in the water and the water splits down into hydrogen and oxygen.
They soon realised the reaction was the product of hydrolysis, a process which breaks down water into it its constituent parts of oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen that is given off can be used in a fuel cell
Since the nanomaterial powder (pictured) has the potential to be 3D printed, researchers envision future air and ground robots that can feed off of their very structures and self-destruct after mission completion
'There are other researchers who have been searching their whole lives and their optimized product takes many hours to achieve, say 50 per cent efficiency.
'Ours does it to nearly 100 per cent efficiency in less than three minutes.'
Since the nanomaterial powder has the potential to be 3D printed, researchers envision future air and ground robots that can feed off of their very structures and self-destruct after mission completion.
Researchers said another possible application of the discovery that may help future soldiers is the potential to recharge mobile devices for recon teams.
These teams are out for three to five days, depending on their food supplies and how long their electronic equipment holds out.
At the moment they rely on lithium batteries, but this innovation could massively extend the length of time they can stay out in the field.
The next steps are to document the discovery with scholarly papers and intellectual property protections, some of which are ongoing, and to coordinate further applications with scientists and engineers across the laboratory
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