
Electron microscope image depicts the water splitting alloy
Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology have successfully tested a new material that can be used for cheap and large-scale production of hydrogen – a promising alternative to fossil fuel.
Precious metals are the standard catalyst material used for extracting hydrogen from water. The problem is these materials – such as platinum, ruthenium and iridium – are too costly. A team from KTH Royal Institute of Technology recently announced a breakthrough that could change the economics of a hydrogen economy.
Led by Licheng Sun, professor of molecular electronics at KTH, the researchers concluded that precious metals can be replaced by a much cheaper combination of nickel, iron and copper (NiFeCu).
“The new alloy can be used to split water into hydrogen,” says researcher Peili Zhang. “This catalyst becomes more efficient than the technologies available today, and significantly cheaper.
“This technology could enable a large-scale hydrogen production economy,” he says. Hydrogen can be used for example to reduce carbon dioxide from steel production or to produce diesel and aircraft fuel.
It’s not the first time a cheaper material has been proposed for water splitting, but the researchers argue that their solution is more effective than others. They published their results recently in the scientific journal Nature Communication.
“The high catalytic performance of core-shell NiFeCu for water oxidation is attributed to the synergistic effect of Ni, Fe and Cu,” Zhang says.
Zhang says that copper plays an interesting role in the preparation of the electrode. In an aqueous solution, surface copper dissolves and leave a very porous structure to enhance the electrochemically active surface area. “The porous oxide shell with its high electrochemically active surface area is responsible for the catalytic activity, while the metallic cores work as facile electron transport highways,” Zhang says.
Learn more: Hydrogen extraction breakthrough could be game-changer
The Latest on: Hydrogen economy
- The World Energy Council publishes hydrogen report on February 18, 2019 at 4:19 am
The World Energy Council has launched a report titled ‘Hydrogen – industry as a catalyst, accelerating the decarbonisation of our economy to and post 2030,’ that builds on previous studies around Euro... […]
- Hydrogen Vehicle market worth 11400 million US$ by 2025 with a CAGR of 45.0% examined in new market research report on February 18, 2019 at 3:03 am
The global average price of Hydrogen Vehicle is in the decreasing trend, from 218 K USD/Unit in 2014 to 182 K USD/Unit in 2017. With the situation of global economy, prices will be in decreasing trend ... […]
- Hydrogen Mobility Australia CEO: Hydrogen’s time has come on February 18, 2019 at 1:00 am
driven by Japan’s decision to put imported hydrogen at the heart of its economy, Australia is positioning itself to lead the world on hydrogen production and exports. Last year the country announced i... […]
- Chroma and Hephas Energy Corporation Collaborate to Develop the Hydrogen Fuel Cell in the New Energy Vehicle Testing Market on February 17, 2019 at 9:31 pm
The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle was developed after ... Warning signs for the US economy are piling up. […]
- Fuel cell breakthrough brings hydrogen cars one step closer on February 17, 2019 at 7:18 pm
South Korean and Japanese giants have taken the lead in developing and applying hydrogen energy, Economic Daily reported. South Korean automaker Hyundai rolled out the world's first mass-produced hydr... […]
- Hydrogen fuel production could become new industry in Queenstown on February 17, 2019 at 3:10 am
It said the district's potential to be used ''as a test bed for hydrogen economy technologies'' was high, due to its unique geography, local expertise, globally recognised branding, as well as being a ... […]
- Hydrogen as an energy source identified as R&D opportunity on February 14, 2019 at 2:35 pm
Producing hydrogen as an alternative source of energy has been identified ... the potential to attract international research and development to the district. QLDC Economic Development Manager Peter H... […]
- Hydrogen Vehicle market will register 45.0% CAGR revenue and US$ 5430 million by 2024, from US$ 580 million in 2019 on February 14, 2019 at 10:08 am
name=... The global average price of Hydrogen Vehicle is in the decreasing trend, from 218 K USD/Unit in 2014 to 182 K USD/Unit in 2017. With the situation of global economy, prices will be in decreas... […]
- Victoria's Latrobe Valley coal-to-hydrogen pilot project gets green light from EPA on February 14, 2019 at 1:33 am
"Countries such as Japan have made public commitments that they're transitioning to what they call a hydrogen society," Ms Johnson said. "They're doing this for a couple of reasons — one is to decarbo... […]
- Hyundai Motor given green light to set up hydrogen charging station in parliament on February 12, 2019 at 2:54 am
in parliament in a symbolic gesture that underscores Seoul's commitment to boosting the hydrogen economy. Hyundai Motor, the world's first mass-producer of hydrogen FCEVs, has also been given the gree... […]
via Google News and Bing News