Tag: hydrogen production

Hydrogen production – a promising electrocatalyst based on clay nanotubes

Hydrogen production – a promising electrocatalyst based on clay nanotubes

Hydrogen is one of the avenues explored to replace fossil fuels. Producing hydrogen by splitting water is a possible pathway, but it requires the use of catalysts that are often made of scarce, expensive materials whose extraction is not environmentally friendly. It is crucial to discover new, cost-effective, noble-metal-free catalysts that still preserve high performance.
A consortium led by researchers from the Laboratoire de Physique des Solides and the Institut de Chimie Physique (CNRS/UPSaclay) has demonstrated the potential of geo-inspired clay nanotubes as sustainable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction, the bottleneck in water-splitting processes. Four SOLEIL beamlines contributed to these results.

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER), also known as the water oxidation reaction, 2H₂O ⟶ 4e⁻ + 4H⁺ + O₂, naturally occurs during photosynthesis, which produces the oxygen we breathe. This reaction involves a four-electron transfer, competes with peroxide formation, and requires catalysts to proceed. In recent years, major advances have been achieved with Ir- and Ru-based catalysts, which are considered as benchmark materials for OER. However, despite their high activity and stability, the scarcity and high cost of these elements represent significant limitations for large-scale applications compared with more Earth-abundant elements.

Read more on the SOLEIL website

A step closer to low-cost green energy

A step closer to low-cost green energy

An international study with researchers from China, Spain, Germany and Korea advances low-cost, efficient green energy solutions. They describe how, in alkaline environments, nickel sulfide (NiS) electrodes transform into a mix of Ni3S2 and NiO, creating highly active sites that enhance hydrogen production. Synchrotron light experiments at CLAESS beamline were key to observe this transformation in real time, providing insights into how these changes improve the catalyst’s performance.

Unlocking hydrogen as an energy source is essential for the global green transition. However, current hydrogen production methods remain extremely energy-intensive and produce significant carbon dioxide emissions. Water electrolysis, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy, offers a promising solution. To improve this process, developing low-cost, high-performance electrocatalysts is crucial. These catalysts speed up reactions and lower the activation energy required, particularly in the alkaline conditions common in industry. Current research focuses on creating efficient catalysts with dual active sites using inexpensive, abundant materials like metal chalcogenides, phosphides, and carbides. Despite progress, understanding the exact reaction mechanisms and active sites in alkaline conditions remains challenging.

In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers revealed that nickel sulfide (NiS) electrodes transform during use in alkaline conditions, forming highly active dual sites at the Ni3S2/NiO interface. This restructuring greatly enhances catalytic activity, significantly improving their efficiency in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The work involved researchers from Xiamen and Fudan Universities (China), IMDEA Energy (Spain) alongside scientists from the ALBA Synchrotron, the Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany) and the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) (Republic of Korea).

Read more on ALBA website