Biotechnological perspective for wireless energy: H-2-based power extraction from air

Despite its extreme scarcity, atmospheric H-2 serves as an energy source for some prokaryotes. Recently, Grinter, Kropp, et al. reported the structural, biochemical, electrochemical, and spectroscopic elucidation of an underlying H-2 catalyst, a [NiFe]-hydrogenase, which, owing to its extremely high affinity, facilitates the extraction of energy from ambient air.

Automated summary

Despite its scarcity, H-2 in the atmosphere can still serve as an energy source for certain prokaryotes. In a recent study, Grinter, Kropp, et al. elucidated the structure, biochemistry, electrochemistry, and spectroscopy of a [NiFe]-hydrogenase catalyst, which has an extremely high affinity for H-2 and enables energy extraction from ambient air.