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
South Korea's Hydrogen Economy Ambitions - The Diplomat
January 31, 2019 - South Korea's Hydrogen Economy Ambitions The DiplomatMoon Jae-in has an ambitious plan for South Korea to become a leader in hydrogen vehicles and fuel cells.Kiwis fuel-up the hydrogen economy - FreightWaves
January 30, 2019 - Kiwis fuel-up the hydrogen economy FreightWavesNew Zealand's Ports of Auckland has been conditionally granted funds to buy hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as part of a wider project to build a hydrogen fuel ...- January 22, 2019 - Terrestrial Energy to Present at Hydrogen Economy Summit at The Cleantech Forum San Francisco GlobeNewswireOAKVILLE, Ontario, Jan. 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terrestrial Energy has been invited to present at the Hydrogen Economy Summit during the 17th ...
South Korean government announces roadmap for hydrogen economy - The Hankyoreh
January 20, 2019 - South Korean government announces roadmap for hydrogen economy The HankyorehSkeptics point to plan's excessive optimism. Roadmap for hydrogen economy by 2040. The roadmap for ramping up the hydrogen economy released by the ...Born again shipbuilder eyes Orkney's hydrogen - Marine Propulsion & Auxiliary Machinery
February 18, 2019 - Born again shipbuilder eyes Orkney's hydrogen Marine Propulsion & Auxiliary MachineryFerguson Marine Engineering has returned from bankruptcy with a new zeal for small vessels with innovative propulsion, evidenced by two ground-breaking ...Hydrogen's time has come | News - gasworld
February 18, 2019 - Hydrogen's time has come | News gasworldHydrogen is no longer the 'fuel of the future' but rapidly heading towards mainstream adoption” says Hydrogen Mobility Australia's CEO in an exclusive interview ...
Trade body sets out the case for hydrogen in air pollution debate - FleetPoint
February 18, 2019 - Trade body sets out the case for hydrogen in air pollution debate FleetPointA national trade body is calling for more action to give public and private sector motorists access to hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, to tackle air pollution.Hydrogen trains are coming – can they get rid of diesel for good? - The Conversation - UK
January 30, 2019 - Hydrogen trains are coming – can they get rid of diesel for good? The Conversation - UKWhen the UK government cancelled its plans to electrify train lines across Wales, the Midlands and the north of England, and cut back on the Great Western rail ...
January 24, 2019 - S.Korea's Hyundai Motor heir to lead global coalition to boost hydrogen economy - Xinhua | English.news.cn XinhuaSEOUL, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The heir apparent of Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's biggest automotive company, will lead a global coalition to boost a ...
Reenvisioning The Role For Natural Gas In A Clean Energy Future - Forbes
February 1, 2019 - Reenvisioning The Role For Natural Gas In A Clean Energy Future ForbesNatural gas has promise to address climate goals. This extends beyond lowering carbon-intensity; it can also be the basis of a hydrogen economy that integrates ...
- 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