Mechano-catalysis - a novel method for overall water splitting

A novel finding of mechano-catalytic overall water splitting by metal oxide s, a way to produce hydrogen by water decomposition, is reported. It was cl early revealed that some simple and mixed oxide powders such as NiO, Co3O4, Cu2O, Fe3O4, and CuMO2 (M=Al, Fe, Ga), when suspended in distilled water b y magnetic stirring, decompose water into H-2 and O-2 catalytically. The ob served mechano-catalytic overall water splitting was cycled by the conversi on of mechanical energy supplied by rubbing these oxide powders against the bottom wall of the reaction vessel with the stirring rod. Typical efficien cy of the mechanical-to-chemical energy conversion was estimated to be 4.3% (for NiO).