New Method Could Help Get To Cheap Hydrogen
Researchers at Umeå University have made a breakthrough that could make hydrogen, a carbon dioxide (CO2)-free fuel, more affordable. The team has created a new method to increase the production of hydrogen gas from water and electricity, a process critical to transforming our society into a more sustainable one.
The New Method Of Hydrogen Production
Eduardo Gracia, a researcher at Umeå University’s Department of Physics, led a study that resulted in this significant breakthrough. The study was published in Communications Engineering.
By separating water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity, the electrolysis of water creates hydrogen gas, an excellent source of energy that potentially replaces fossil fuels. To facilitate the reaction, the process requires an electrocatalyst. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis is the most efficient technology.
The Problem Of Metal Dissolution Must Be Solved
But using noble metals such as iridium, platinum, and ruthenium is problematic in PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production. Although these metals work well, they are expensive and hard to find, and ruthenium and iridium wear out over time.
According to associate professor Eduardo Gracia, the decomposition of noble metals, or “metal dissolution,” hinders the generation of hydrogen. This issue must be resolved in order to make the most of PEM technology.
High-quality metal stabilization
Therefore, the significant degradation of electrocatalysts must be addressed first if PEM technology is expected to drive a shift toward a sustainable society. But how? By trapping the expensive but highly active metal in a stable but inactive “scaffold.”
That’s where the Umeå team thrives. The researchers, under the direction of Eduardo Gracia, have created a new framework, a support structure capable of maintaining the stability of precious metals under challenging environments.
This framework, made of tin, antimony, molybdenum, and tungsten oxides (Sn-Sb-Mo-W), has proven strong enough to protect precious metals and other system components from damage during processing.
The team’s findings could make PEM technology more affordable and practical for large-scale renewable hydrogen production while ensuring that the noble metals have a longer service life. This represents an important step toward making our society more sustainable.
Read the original article on Texh Xplore.
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