South Korean Researchers Unveil a Long-Lasting Catalyst for Green Hydrogen

An Advance in Hydrogen Production Technology

According to НВ — Техно: As clean energy systems expand, the durability of electrolyzer components matters as much as cost. A team in South Korea says it has solved a key problem: catalyst breakdown in the production of green hydrogen. The solution involves rearranging platinum and nickel atoms at the crystalline level so that nickel no longer washes out of the catalyst-a failure that directly erodes efficiency. In water-splitting systems, nickel inside alloy catalysts gradually dissolves, causing equipment performance to decline over time.

Rethinking the Material's Structure

Conventional catalysts rely on a chaotic atomic mix, which leaves nickel vulnerable to ionic leaching in alkaline environments. Instead of accepting that randomness, the researchers used a nitrogen-gas heat treatment to reorganize the material at the atomic scale. The result is a structure that dramatically limits nickel loss. A standard disordered catalyst loses more than half of its nickel; the newly designed material reduces that loss to almost nothing.

In laboratory tests, the technology was built into a 64-square-centimeter stack and ran continuously for 3,000 hours-equivalent to four months of operation-while experiencing a performance drop of under 2 percent. Project lead Sung Mook Choi highlighted what makes the work stand out:

“A key achievement is using computational science to show how atomic ordering suppresses nickel leaching, and then experimentally verifying that mechanism under prolonged operation in a commercially relevant stack.” Sung Mook Choi

This breakthrough could significantly improve the economics of clean hydrogen production, an important step in the shift toward renewable energy. By preventing nickel loss, the catalyst reduces material costs and raises overall system productivity, making hydrogen technologies more practical for industrial and energy use. Clean hydrogen depends on dependable, affordable production, and advances like this address exactly those barriers.

As advancements in hydrogen production continue, researchers are exploring various innovative materials to enhance efficiency. For instance, a recent study highlights how U.S. scientists have developed a material that can convert sunlight into hydrogen peroxide, potentially complementing green hydrogen technologies. This approach not only diversifies renewable energy solutions but also underscores the importance of material innovation in achieving sustainability goals. Learn more about this exciting development in the field of clean energy here.