Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have developed a new type of fuel that does not react to flames and only ignites when an electric current is applied.

According to Study Finds, have you ever thought that fuel could be inflammable? This idea has now been realized. Chemical engineers at the University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside) have invented a unique fuel that ignites only when an electric current is applied. The main advantage of this innovative fuel is its safety as it does not react to flames and is immune to accidental fires that occur during storage or transportation.

Yujie Wang, a PhD student in chemical engineering at the University of California, Riverside and one of the researchers of this project, said: “The fuel we usually use is not very safe because it evaporates and ignites, and it is difficult to stop it. It is much easier to control the flammability of a fuel and prevent it from burning by removing the voltage.”

This research group has also registered its patent. In their research article, they have described the process of inventing this fuel and its technical details.

When a fuel burns, it is not the liquid that is burning, but the volatile molecules above it, which ignite through mixing with oxygen and the flame.

Prithwish Biswas, a PhD student in chemical engineering at the University of California, Riverside and the senior researcher of this project, said: “If you throw a lit match into a pool of gasoline, it's the gas vapor that burns. You can smell that vapor and immediately know it’s volatile. If you can control the vapor, you can control the burning of the fuel as well.”

At the heart of this innovation is an ionic liquid, which is essentially a type of liquid salt. This salt is similar to the salt we use to flavor food, Wang noted. The sample we used for this project has a lower melting point than table salt and has a low vapor pressure and is also organic.

To test their work, the scientists used an ordinary lighter, but the liquid did not ignite. When they applied an electric current and then used the lighter, the fuel ignited but stopped burning when the electric current was removed.

Wang explained: “Once we cut the current, the flame went out, and we were able to repeat the process of applying voltage, seeing smoke, burning, and extinguishing many times. We were excited to find a system that we could start up and then stop very quickly.”

As more voltage is applied, the flame becomes larger and more energetic and can provide precise control in the motor system. Michael Zachariah, a distinguished professor of chemical engineering at the University of California, Riverside and one of the researchers of this project, said: “This way, combustion can be measured. A voltage drop also acts as a dead switch. This is a safety feature that automatically shuts down the machine if the operator is unable to do so.”

In theory, this ionic liquid fuel can be used in any vehicle, but in practice, there are challenges that need to be overcome before it can be brought to market. Among these challenges, we can mention the evaluation of engine compatibility and efficiency. An interesting aspect is the fuel’s ability to be mixed with conventional fuels while retaining its non-flammable properties. The exact mixing ratio is still a matter for further research.

Although Zakaria was excited about the safety benefits of the invention, he also pointed to potential obstacles in commercializing the product, primarily due to its high cost.

He added: “This method is definitely more expensive than the method currently used to produce fuel. These compounds are usually not mass produced, but if they are, the finished price will decrease. I don't know how competitive this will be but if safety is important it is a major aspect. With this method, a safe fuel is made and its advantage is beyond the limit.”