According to a report published by the Physicist Organization Network on February 18 (Beijing time), scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, part of the U.S. Department of Energy, have made a breakthrough in hydrogen gas splitting using iron-based catalysts. This innovation has significantly lowered the cost of fuel cells and was recently featured in the latest online issue of *Nature Chemistry*.
R. Morris Bullock, a lead chemist at the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, explained that platinum is currently the standard catalyst in fuel cells, but its high cost—over 1000 times more expensive than iron—has been a major barrier. His team has developed alternative catalysts using more affordable metals like nickel and iron, which can split hydrogen molecules at a rate of up to two per second, matching the efficiency of existing commercial catalysts.
Fuel cells generate electricity by extracting electrons from hydrogen, with platinum typically acting as the catalyst. When a hydrogen molecule breaks apart, it's similar to cracking an egg—electrons are released, much like egg whites, to create an electric current. However, platinum’s unique chemical properties make it difficult to replace with cheaper alternatives. Fortunately, nature offers a solution: hydrogenase, a naturally occurring molecule that uses iron to split hydrogen efficiently.
Inspired by this biological process, Brock and his team designed and tested various molecular structures, optimizing their shape and internal electron configurations for maximum performance. Their goal was to replicate the efficiency of natural hydrogenase using synthetic materials.
The process involves breaking hydrogen molecules unevenly. A hydrogen molecule contains two protons and two electrons, and the catalyst must pull one proton away before it can be captured by a proton acceptor. In a fuel cell, this acceptor gets oxidized, allowing the first electron to be released. Once the bond between the proton and electron weakens, the electrode can easily transfer the electron. The same process repeats for the second hydrogen atom, enabling the flow of electrons between electrodes.
Through careful experimentation, the team measured the catalyst’s splitting speed, achieving up to two hydrogen molecules per second. They also evaluated the overvoltage, a key indicator of efficiency. Results showed that overvoltages of 160–220 mV already meet commercial standards. The researchers are now working to fine-tune the reaction steps, aiming to enhance the catalyst’s performance under optimal conditions.
(Reporter: Hualing Epic)
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