Scientists videotaped the process of water formation using nanotechnology

Researchers at Northwestern University have, for the first time, produced a video showing the process of how a water molecule is formed when oxygen and hydrogen combine.

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To do this, they used palladium, which serves as a catalyst for the joining of hydrogen and oxygen. The scientists placed palladium samples in honeycomb-shaped nanoreactors and encased them in ultrathin glass. They then slowly introduced gases and observed the process using a high-vacuum transmission electron microscope.

The video shows how hydrogen and oxygen interact with palladium to form water molecules. This experiment could help develop new methods for producing potable water. Researchers hope that understanding this process will allow them to create devices to produce water when it is needed. This discovery could be an important step in solving the world's drinking water shortage.

Source: Northwestern University, BGR