The climate issue necessitates the use of more incredible renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. However, scalable energy storage is complex due to intermittent availability. Hydrogen, particularly carbon-free green hydrogen, has emerged as a viable, clean energy carrier and storage option for renewables like solar and wind power. Although it emits less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, it is currently costly and complex to produce.
Recently, a team has developed a new water-splitting process. The material used maximizes the efficiency of producing green hydrogen. The idea has great potential within Hydrogen Market as it is an affordable and accessible option for industrial partners. It could allow them to switch to green hydrogen for renewable energy storage rather than traditional, carbon-emitting hydrogen production from natural gas.
Green hydrogen does not contribute to carbon emissions and is thus a more environmentally acceptable form of storing renewable electricity. It is expected to replace natural gas and coal, which are now utilized for storing surplus electric energy at the grid level. The subject of the present study is Electrolysis - the process of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity.
Team utilized hybrid materials for the electrocatalyst to make green hydrogen less expensive and more lasting. Their approach will reduce the use of such noble metals while enhancing their activity and utilization possibilities.
The researchers came up with a superior oxide substrate that employs less noble elements, resulting in a new class of catalysts. These hybrid catalysts outperformed conventional catalysts in both oxygen and hydrogen production (splitting).
The catalyst's shape on hydrogen production was one of the most important findings. It's critical to examine the catalyst's surface structure to discover if it's suitable for hydrogen production. That is why scientists are working to control the structure of the catalyst and the interaction of the metals with the substrate material.
Hydrogen stations are used as fuel cell electric vehicles. Further microgrids are a completely new community approach to designing and operating electric grids that rely on renewable-driven backup power. These two applications might experience a significant impact after the advent of the new approach.
Researchers are set to take their findings a step ahead. They are currently collaborating with partners to investigate new materials for efficient hydrogen production through artificial intelligence (AI).