Scientists have developed a new material to produce hydrogen more efficiently and at a lower cost. It is also possible to use this technology to make better solar panels.
Hydrogen is typically produced by electrolysis, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. This is done by touching the electrodes to water and passing an electrical current through the water, usually using an electrolyte such as saline. In addition, a catalyst is used to speed up the reaction, often made of precious metals such as platinum. The catalyst promotes the splitting of water molecules into hydrogen gas at one electrode (cathode) and oxygen gas at the other electrode (anode).
The problem is that conventional catalysts are relatively expensive due to the presence of precious metals such as platinum. Additionally, with current catalysts, air bubbles are created during hydrogen production, making the reaction less efficient.
Double solution
Scientists at Pohang University of Science and Technology Korea (POSTECH) believe they killed two birds with one stone. They have developed a new catalyst in which platinum is replaced with much cheaper nickel. This should translate into a cheaper hydrogen production process.
Meanwhile, the scientists say in their paper published in the Journal of Commerce Advanced materials It has been published that the new catalyst makes it possible to quickly release the formed bubbles from the surface of the material. This makes the chemical reaction smoother. According to scientists, this material can also be used to make solar panels more efficient or to reduce carbon dioxide emissions resulting from certain reactions.
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