The new production process doesn’t require any adhesive to attach the catalyst to the electrode. (image: Korea Institute of Materials Science)
SEOUL, Jul. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — A South Korean research team has developed a new technology that can significantly reduce the cost of catalysts required to produce hydrogen, an eco-friendly source of energy, by electrolyzing water.
The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) research team announced on Tuesday that it has developed a more affordable non-noble metal catalyst that can be used in water electrolysis.
Hydrogen is produced by electrolyzing water, during which a catalyst is required. Currently, these catalysts come at exorbitant prices, since they use iridium and platinum, both of which are costly metals.
There have been many attempts to develop a new catalyst by using affordable materials, but most of them lacked efficiency and durability.
The research team used copper and cobalt to produce the new catalyst, which costs only one-thousandth of the price of iridium-based catalysts, but is 1.5 times more active. It also demonstrated solid durability.
The team simplified the production process of the new catalyst to coat it on the electrode of the water electrolysis system.
The new production process doesn’t require any adhesive to attach the catalyst to the electrode.
The research team produced another catalyst using copper, cobalt, and phosphorus, which is less active during electrolysis than platinum-based catalysts.
“With this new technology, we will be able to expedite the commercialization process of hydrogen,” said Choi Seung-mok, a senior researcher at KIMS.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
