Requiring nothing but abundant, non-toxic natural materials, this discovery could unlock the most potent, carbon-free energy source of all: the sun. </quote>
In the podcast (http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/sci;1162018/DC2) Nocera explains the process perfectly. This "missing link" in electolysis has been the production of O2. Now this is possible. And now a closed loop of water splitting and water production is possible for the first time apparently. So, this could indeed be a possible way to store energy for times when there is no sun or wind available to produce electricity. Nocera also mentions that there are already alternatives for Pt for the hydrogen production and they are going to test them.
However, indeed nothing is said on the efficiency of the whole process and thus the economics of this process. How large a system do you need for a household and what would it cost? Hopefully we will get answers soon.
Still you need photovoltaic cells or windmills to produce electricity for your house, your car, etc. And you need extra electricity to produce H2 and O2 for times when there is no sun or wind. PV cells still cost a lot and still are not efficient enough (thus take up too much space). So, there are still other missing links to solve to really start a electricity revolution.
Not without large amounts of waste energy. This energy cost makes electrolysis impractical for efficient energy storage.
If you could reduce the amount of energy required to electrolyze water, then it would make an extremely good energy storage vehicle. That's exactly what this research is about.
Releasing or not releasing O2 has nothing whatsoever to do with waste energy. It's impossible to electrolyze water without releasing O2.
It's great to try to make it more efficient, but this research doesn't actually do that, it just makes the equipment cheaper, but at the same efficiency.
And besides electrolysis is a terrible way to store energy because storing hydrogen is impractical (it leaks right though metal). Plus there are unavoidable inefficiencies.
Although they would require very small amounts (I think). I am pretty sure catalytic converters in cars and other industrial devices use tiny amounts of Pt, and they aren't a real cost burden.
Actually, catalytic converters are pretty expensive, and their theft is on the rise. I know someone who had his car stolen in Oakland. The police found the car, but the catalytic converter was sawed off. Supposedly they run a couple hundred $ minimum.
Would like to read that article, but its probably a few bits of anecdotal evidence spun into a trend and story. Also I am lazy and forgot my NYT password.
Requiring nothing but abundant, non-toxic natural materials, this discovery could unlock the most potent, carbon-free energy source of all: the sun. </quote>
Now we can split the water (H2 + O2) in a cheap efficient and highly manufacturing way </quote> http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/sci;1162018/DC2
Though It requires Platinum at the moment (Pt is not a cheap earth-abundant material).