Experts discover novel solvent capable of making hydrogenases fit for hydrogen production in air; lower-cost metals used.
A recently posted article in ScienceDaily says that experts from Swansea and Grenoble have joined forces to develop a low-cost way to produce green hydrogen using sustainable catalysts.
As per the article,
- Researchers have developed a low-cost catalyst that uses as little platinum as possible, which can be cheaply scaled for mass use
- The catalyst efficiently produces green hydrogen from sunlight, combining two components that cannot achieve this on their own
- Georgia Tech’s research team is also working on making green hydrogen less costly and more durable using hybrid materials for the electrocatalyst
- The ultimate goal is to replace expensive and rare noble metal components such as platinum and iridium with sustainable catalysts, allowing green hydrogen to provide low-carbon energy and fuels when and where needed
Hydrogenases are highly efficient biological catalysts that can produce hydrogen gas.
- Hydrogenases are incredibly efficient, capable of producing up to 9,000 molecules of hydrogen per second. This makes them one of the most effective catalysts for hydrogen production.
- Unlike traditional catalysts like platinum, hydrogenases use earth-abundant metals like iron and nickel, which are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
- However, a significant challenge is that most hydrogenases are inhibited by oxygen, which limits their practical use. Researchers are working to engineer these enzymes to be more stable and functional in the presence of oxygen.
- By combining engineered hydrogenases with synthetic nanoparticles, scientists have achieved efficient hydrogen production directly from sunlight. This demonstrates the potential for scalable, sustainable hydrogen production.
- Replacing expensive platinum-based catalysts with hydrogenases could significantly reduce the costs of electrolyzers and fuel cells, making green hydrogen more accessible and affordable.
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