A team of researchers from City University Hong Kong and Imperial College London has unveiled a groundbreaking development in hydrogen production, making it a more accessible and cost-effective option.
Hydrogen production via electrolysis, powered by renewable energy sources, enables the efficient storage and transport of renewable energy for future use. Traditionally, platinum has been the catalyst of choice in the electrolysis process, but its use significantly raises the overall cost.
In a breakthrough, the research team has engineered a catalyst that employs minimal platinum, offering the potential for scalable and cost-effective production.
Co-author of the study, Professor Anthony Kucernak from Imperial College London, highlighted the significance of this innovation in the context of the UK's hydrogen strategy. He explained, “The UK Hydrogen Strategy sets out an ambition to reach 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. To facilitate that goal, we need to ramp up the production of cheap, easy-to-produce, and efficient hydrogen storage. The new electrocatalyst could be a major contributor to this, ultimately helping the UK meet its net-zero goals by 2050.”
The newly developed electrocatalyst involves the dispersion of single platinum atoms on a molybdenum sulphide sheet. Researchers assert that this approach is more efficient than conventional catalysts with higher platinum concentrations.
The technology originated from chemists at City University Hong Kong and was subsequently tested by the Imperial College London team, known for pioneering technologies employing this catalyst type. Their findings were published in the scientific journal Nature.
Lead researcher Professor Zhang Hua from City University emphasized the environmental benefits of hydrogen produced via electrocatalytic water splitting, stating, “Hydrogen generated by electrocatalytic water splitting is regarded as one of the most promising clean energies for replacing fossil fuels in the near future, reducing environmental pollution and the greenhouse effect.”
The City University team played a crucial role in growing thin catalysts on nanosheet supports, resulting in a high-purity material. Kucernak's team at Imperial College London then characterized the material and developed methods and models to understand its catalytic operations.
While China currently leads the world in hydrogen production, with ambitious targets set by the Chinese Government, the development of efficient catalysts like this holds global implications for the clean energy transition. Hydrogen, as a clean energy source, offers a valuable solution for storing energy during periods when renewable generation is less favorable due to adverse weather conditions.
