Prof. Greta Patzke x Mirabella-Morganti: Green Hydrogen

As energy demands continue to grow, so does the impact of humans on the environment. Energy production through means of fossil fuels is a major contributor to climate change, which has led to an increasing shift to renewable sources of energy. These sources, however, often suffer from intermittent energy production or production at times of low energy demand. To remedy this issue, we must find novel ways, not only to produce, but to store energy.

One of these methods is through the production of green hydrogen. To achieve this goal, Prof. Greta Patzke and her team are researching “cobalt cubanes”, a molecule which is inspired by the natural systems found in plants for photosynthesis. These “cobalt cubanes” enable the production of green hydrogen through a type of artificial photosynthesis. By increasing the energy efficiency of the conversion process of naturally abundant water to hydrogen fuel, without the need for expensive precious metals, it’s possible to store vast quantities of energy, which then can be released later on demand.

Inspired by Prof. Greta Patzke’s research on cubane molecules, the design team Mirabella-Morganti was focused on a precise and easily recognizable visualization of the cubic structure. The gray lines represent carbon, light blue is nitrogen, red is oxygen, and dark blue is cobalt. Through mirroring and strategic placement of the motif, it evolved into a geometric knit pattern with a clear, graphic aesthetic, transporting the beauty of the molecular structure onto the garment and wearer.

Prof. Greta Patzke –  Professor at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of Zurich 
 Mirabella-Morganti –  Design studio working in art, culture and education 

Produced by MRC in Italy with Biella Yarn.