New catalyst design could make green hydrogen cheaper to produce
Researchers have engineered a two-metal catalyst that cuts the energy needed for water-splitting hydrogen production by 23%, using inexpensive materials and simple manufacturing. The breakthrough could lower costs for green hydrogen across industries from chemicals to steel, while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Originaltitel: Nanoarchitectonics of a bimetallic Sr-Cu malate MOF on conductive Ni foam for Efficient oxygen evolution reaction
<p>The growing global demand for clean energy has intensified the search for efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts for water splitting. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), known for their high surface area, tunable porosity, and structural flexibility, offer significant potential in this field. In this work, a bimetallic Sr-Cu-MOF/NF was synthesized using malic acid as an organic linker via a simple one-pot solvothermal method and directly grown on nickel foam (NF), forming a binder-free Sr-Cu-MOF/NF electrode. The incorporation of conductive and porous NF enhances charge transport and mechanical stability, while the dual-metal synergy of Sr and Cu promotes superior catalytic activity. The synthesized electrode was thoroughly characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), confirming successful MOF formation with a uniform coating over the Ni foam. Electrochemical evaluation under alkaline conditions demonstrated excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance, with a low overpotential of 230 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 60 mV dec⁻¹ outperforming the individual Sr-MOF/NF and Cu-MOF/NF. Chronoamperometric measurements further confirmed the long-term durability of the electrode, maintaining stable current density over a continuous 48-hour period. These results highlight the enhanced electron transfer, increased active sites, and synergistic effect, showcasing Sr-Cu-MOF/NF as a promising electrode for sustainable energy conversion applications.</p>