Low-cost green hydrogen production possible with new breakthrough

Scientists have achieved a new breakthrough that can help produce cheaper green hydrogen.

A research team led by researchers from Hanyang University ERICA campus in South Korea developed cobalt phosphides-based nanomaterials by adjusting boron doping and phosphorus content using metal-organic frameworks. These materials have better performance and lower cost than conventional electrocatalysts, making them suitable for large-scale hydrogen production.

Professor Seunghyun Lee from Hanyang University stated that their findings offer a blueprint for designing and synthesizing next-generation high-efficiency catalysts that can drastically reduce hydrogen production costs.

“This is an important step towards making large-scale green hydrogen production a reality, which will ultimately help in reducing global carbon emissions and mitigating climate change.”

Method can reduce hydrogen production costs

The researchers used an innovative strategy to create these materials, using cobalt (Co) based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

“MOFs are excellent precursors for designing and synthesizing nanomaterials with the required composition and structures,” said Dun Chan Cha, from the Hanyang University.

Researchers grew Co-MOFs on nickel foam (NF). They then subjected this material to a post-synthesis modification (PSM) reaction with sodium borohydride (NaBH4), resulting in the integration of B. This was followed up by a phosphorization process using different amounts of sodium hypophosphite (NaH2PO2), resulting in the formation of three different samples of B-doped cobalt phosphide nanosheets (B-CoP@NC/NF), according to researchers.

Low-cost hydrogen production

Experiments revealed that all three samples had a large surface area and a mesoporous structure, key features that improve electrocatalytic activity. As a result, all three samples exhibited excellent OER and HER performance, with the sample made using 0.5 grams of NaH2PO2 (B-CoP0.5@NC/NF) demonstrating the best results. Interestingly, this sample exhibited overpotentials of 248 and 95 mV for OER and HER, respectively, much lower than previously reported electrocatalysts, according to a press release.

Researchers revealed that density functional theory (DFT) calculations supported these findings and clarified the role of B-doping and adjusting P content. Specifically, B-doping and optimal P content led to effective interaction with reaction intermediates, leading to exceptional electrocatalytic performance.  

Previous experiments have focused on electrochemical water-splitting, a process that uses electricity to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen. In combination with renewable energy sources, this method offers a sustainable way to produce hydrogen and can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases. 

However, large-scale production of hydrogen using this method is currently unfeasible due to the need for catalysts made from expensive rare earth metals.

Therefore, researchers are exploring more affordable electrocatalysts, such as those made from diverse transition metals and compounds.

The low-cost production of clean hydrogen can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, helping the globe that urgently needs clean and renewable energy sources.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}