Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!nanotech From: cphoenix@csli.stanford.edu (Chris Phoenix) Newsgroups: sci.nanotech Subject: Re: H20 + CO + SUNLIGHT -(Nano/Bio hybrid)-> Alcohol Keywords: solar+smog+hybrid conversion=energy storage Message-ID: Date: 6 Mar 90 06:09:30 GMT Sender: nanotech@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Center for the Study of Language and Information, Stanford U. Lines: 22 Approved: nanotech@aramis.rutgers.edu In article sorgatz%sdcsvax@ttidca.tti.com ( Avatar) writes: > After all, the current method for producing methyl alcohol involves the >hydrogenation of carbon monoxide..something we have plenty of! The use of >methanol as a portable-energy supply is much better in terms of the total >pollution factors than, say, lead-acid storage batteries. This is due to >the acid-vapor that lead-acid cells outgas during the use/charge cycles. >Very low pollution numbers compared to gasoline & diesel fuels. This may seem like a useless nit to pick, but I suspect a lot of technology-dreamers are limiting themselves the same way. Acid-vapor outgassing? With a sealed diamond-shell battery?? With a nanotech fuel cell to recombine the H2 and O2? Or maybe even nanotech- built electrodes that don't outgas? As long as we're assuming nanotech, let's assume that we can build things without worrying about environmental costs--because it's so easy to contain and clean up! -- Chris Phoenix | "I've spent the last nine years structuring my cphoenix@csli.Stanford.EDU | life so that this couldn't happen." ...And I only kiss your shadow, I cannot see your hand, you're a stranger now unto me, lost in the dangling conversation, and the superficial sighs...