Renewable, energetic, nanodimensional dispersion

#The subject invention relates to fuel cells and unique compositions of matter useful as energy carriers for conversion to electrical energy in fuel cells. Said compositions may be applied directly as semi-liquid fuels to replace gaseous hydrogen or hydrocarbon fuels in simple, inexpensive fuel cells.

#The supply of hydrocarbon fuels is limited. When hydrocarbons are used as energy carriers and converted into mechanical or electrical energy they generate polluting by-products. The need to replace hydrocarbon based energy carriers with non-polluting renewable energy carriers is recognized worldwide.

#Pure hydrogen has been identified as a potential renewable energy carrier. When electrical energy produced in one location from renewable sources, such as sunlight, wind, or hydroelectric power, is converted into hydrogen, and the hydrogen is subsequently converted at another location back into electrical energy in a fuel cell, hydrogen acts as an energy carrier and no pollution is inherently produced. However, the transportation and storage of hydrogen is difficult and volumetrically inefficient due to the small size of the hydrogen molecule and its volatility in air. Further when gaseous hydrogen is used, rare and expensive catalysts must be incorporated into the fuel cell in order to convert molecular hydrogen into ionic materials that can be transported across the fuel cell membrane. The inefficiency in this system is not a result of the energy conversion devices it is an inherent fault in the nature of the energy carrier. In other words the problem with this system of renewable energy is not the fuel cell it is the fuel.

#A composition according to the present invention containing ˜60% by weight of MoS2 as component (a) with an average particle size before intercalation of 2.0 microns (Aldrich), intercalated with ˜0.6% by weight of Li as component (b), and dispersed in a quantity of a solution of DMSO as component (c) and LiClO4 as component (d) and heavy mineral oil as component (e) and hexane as component (f) was mixed in a dry environment in a glove box by combining the components together in a sealed container and vigorously shaking by hand to form a mixture. No appreciable generation of heat or evolution of gasses was observed during the formulation of the composition.

#Once formulated the composition was removed from the glove box in the sealed container and allowed to stand for ˜72 hours. No appreciable separation between the components was observed and the composition had a uniform black liquid appearance. The container was unsealed in air and composition was poured into a ceramic boat. Although somewhat subdued, a distinct odor of DMSO emanating from the composition was apparent, however no appreciable heat rise or gas evolution was observed.

#In order to explore other safety and handling issues the sample of the composition was transferred to a fume hood. A quantity of the mixture was collected in a pipette and added drop-wise to a container of water. No immediate reaction was observed although bubbling, heat, and gas evolution was achieved after vigorously shaking the water/fuel mixture.