New theoretical work from China suggests that silicon nanotubes can store hydrogen more efficiently than their carbon nanotube counterparts. This raises the possibility that, after powering the micro-electronics revolution, silicon could also become a key material for the future hydrogen economy.
“Compared to carbon, silicon has more electrons in the outer shells, which leads to higher polarizability and a stronger dispersion force” Dr. Dapeng Cao explains to Nanowerk. “Motivated by this observation, we employ a multiscale theoretical method, which combines the first-principle calculation and a grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation, to predict the adsorption capacity of hydrogen in silicon nanotube (SiNT) arrays at a temperature of 298°K (25°C) and pressure range from 1 to 10 MPa. Our calculations show that silicon nanotubes can adsorb hydrogen molecules more efficiently than carbon nanotubes under normal fuel cell operating conditions.”

http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=5382.php

America needs to get back into research we need more science more engineers less MBAs. Aside from better leaders creating better jobs in these fields we need to inspire people to want to create the future.
We can all do our parts even on if its only late might blog comments its a start.

Zeng said he’s hopeful that experimental chemists will be able to reproduce his and Bai’s model in the laboratory, but he acknowledged that it would be difficult. Creating nanoscale tubes is commonplace in modern labs, but getting silicon into the tubes will be the problem, he said. The element not only has a high melting point at more than 1,600 degrees Kelvin (more than 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit), but it’s also highly reactive at high temperatures, making it difficult to work with

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http://www.azonano.com/details.asp?ArticleID=838

If silicon nano tubes have the same frictionless quality as carbon buckeyballs then maybe we can replace oil in cars?