Hydrazine hydrate could replace hydrogen fuel cells

Hydrazine hydrate is a compound of hydrogen, nitrogen, and water, with molecular symbol: H2NNH2OH2O. Hydrazine monohydrate is a colorless liquid that has been used as a part of jet aircraft fuel. The Daihatsu engineers contend that hydrazine hydrate solution is much better than hydrogen because hydrazine hydrate (1) has higher output, (2) is easier to store and deliver, (3) has no carbon dioxide emissions, and (4) is less expensive to use. Hydrazine hydrate is less expensive to use than hydrogen because hydroxide ions uses cobalt or nickel as the electrode catalyst to break down the hydrazine hydrate molecules rather than platinum to break down hydrogen molecules. Cobalt and nickel are both much cheaper to use than platinum. Conventional hydrogen fuel cells have highly acidic electrolyte membranes, which mean that platinum must be used because hydrazine hydrate can resist the highly corrosive nature of the hydrogen fuel cell structure. In hydrazine hydrate fuel cells, however, alkaline electrolyte membranes are used instead, which do not require such expensive materials. Fuel cells are being developed that use hydrogen. However, hydrogen is expensive because it needs platinum, a precious metal, to break down the hydrogen atoms. But, hydrazinium hydroxide uses cobalt or nickel, which are much cheaper elements. Engineers at the Daihatsu unit of Yoyota, located in Ryuo, Japan, are developing a fuel cell that uses hydrazine hydrate, rather than hydrogen, to power automobiles and other motorized vehicles.