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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Japan discovers game-changing metal that boosts Hydrogen output by 1,000%—world closer to fossil-free future
Japan has revealed an effective way to move toward a green future, as researchers at the RIKEN Institute have a new way of producing green hydrogen, as per a report. A New Hope for Green Hydrogen While countries like Spain are producing green hydrogen by using renewable energy sources to do electrolysis of water, Japan has found a way to produce the green energy on a sustainable scale, as per the Farmingdale report. Recently, the most popular way of producing hydrogen is via PEM electrolysers, which use a proton exchange membrane as the electrolyte, due to its greater efficiency and ability to respond rapidly to intermittent energy sources, according to the Farmingdale report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo ALSO READ: No Kings protest takes toll: Trump's approval rating hits -6, marking sharpest drop in months The PEM Electrolyser Problem However, it's not a sustainable model because PEM electrolysers are very expensive and also require efficient catalysts that can resist corrosion in acid and therefore use platinum or iridium, which are rare and expensive metals, reported Farmingdale. It is used because iridium catalysts can prolong the oxygen conversion reaction and produce huge quantities of hydrogen, as per the report. Live Events Japan's Game-Changing Discovery But now, researchers at Japan's RIKEN Institute discovered that there is a cheap material which is capable of doing the same thing, according to the report. Japanese researchers studied and used a common metal, manganese, and modified its three-dimensional structure to create the first efficient and sustainable PEM electrolyser without rare metals, as per the Farmingdale report. According to the report, the researchers developed a manganese oxide (MnO2) catalyst by manipulating the lattice structure of the material to form stronger bonds with oxygen atoms. This improved MnO2 is even more stable than any other non-noble metal catalysts and even maintains the reaction with water for much longer, generating 1,000% more hydrogen, reported Farmingdale. As per a study published in Nature Catalysis, MnO2 can increase the lifespan of other cheap catalysts by a factor of 40, reported Farmingdale. The researchers found that this material is more resistant to dissolution in acid and is also more stable during the reaction, Farmingdale. During the laboratory tests, the researchers found that the catalyst operated for more than 1,000 hours at 200 mA/cm² and produced 10 times more hydrogen than any other materials, as per Farmingdale. Farmingdale wrote, "Future modifications to the manganese structure could further increase the current density supported by the material and the lifetime of the catalyst, with the long-term aim of making water electrolysis iridium-free." FAQs What did Japanese scientists discover? They found a way to use manganese, a cheap and common metal, to replace expensive rare metals in hydrogen production, which will make the process more affordable and sustainable, as per the Farmingdale report. Why is this important? Because green hydrogen could be a key part of a fossil-free energy future, and Japan's discovery could help make it widely accessible.
Express Tribune
19 hours ago
- Science
- Express Tribune
Japan discovers low-cost catalyst that boosts hydrogen output 10x
Japanese researchers have made a significant breakthrough in green hydrogen production, developing a low-cost manganese-based catalyst capable of producing up to 1,000% more hydrogen through electrolysis — a discovery that could drastically reduce reliance on expensive rare metals such as iridium and platinum. The research, conducted by scientists at Japan's RIKEN Institute and published in Nature Catalysis, focuses on proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers, a technology widely regarded for its efficiency and responsiveness in converting water into hydrogen using renewable electricity. Until now, these systems have heavily depended on costly and scarce noble metals to facilitate the chemical reactions required. The core of the innovation lies in a modified form of manganese oxide (MnO₂), a common and abundant metal. By engineering its three-dimensional lattice structure, researchers succeeded in significantly strengthening the material's bond with oxygen atoms — a key step in improving its catalytic performance. In laboratory trials, the restructured manganese oxide demonstrated remarkable durability and efficiency, operating continuously for over 1,000 hours at a current density of 200 mA/cm². The result: a tenfold increase in hydrogen output compared with previous non-noble metal catalysts. According to the study, the new MnO₂ catalyst is not only more stable in acidic environments, a crucial requirement for PEM electrolysers, but also extends the lifespan of other low-cost catalysts by a factor of 40. This makes it one of the most promising non-precious alternatives for sustainable hydrogen production. Green hydrogen, produced via water electrolysis powered by renewable sources, is considered a vital component in the transition to clean energy. Countries such as Spain have already placed significant investment into green hydrogen as a long-term solution to decarbonising heavy industry and transport. However, the use of rare metals in electrolysis has presented a major economic and environmental hurdle. Iridium, often used to catalyse oxygen conversion in PEM systems, is one of the rarest elements on Earth. Replacing it with a stable, low-cost alternative could help scale hydrogen production globally without the supply chain risks tied to rare metals. While the manganese-based catalyst marks a major scientific advance, researchers caution that further development is necessary before the material is deployed at industrial scale. Efforts are ongoing to improve the current density and operational lifespan of the catalyst under real-world conditions. The discovery holds several far-reaching implications for the global energy landscape. By eliminating the need for expensive noble metals such as iridium and platinum, the manganese-based catalyst could significantly lower the cost of producing green hydrogen. This would enhance the economic viability of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier and make it more accessible for widespread industrial use. Furthermore, manganese is abundant and widely available, in contrast to the scarce and geopolitically sensitive supply chains associated with iridium. Substituting manganese for rare metals may alleviate supply bottlenecks and reduce dependence on limited global sources, supporting more secure and scalable hydrogen infrastructure deployment. The enhanced durability of the catalyst — which maintained continuous operation for over 1,000 hours in laboratory testing — also suggests improved lifespan and efficiency for PEM electrolysers. This could reduce maintenance requirements and operational downtime, resulting in better long-term performance and lower total system costs. If successfully translated to industrial applications, the technology may accelerate the decarbonisation of sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as steelmaking, chemical production and long-haul transport. It also supports broader integration of green hydrogen into energy systems as a storage medium for surplus renewable power. While further validation is necessary under real-world operating conditions, the innovation marks a promising step toward more sustainable and commercially viable hydrogen production — and may ultimately help drive the global transition to a low-carbon energy future. Still, the RIKEN team believes this innovation could be a decisive step toward making iridium-free water electrolysis a commercial reality — a prospect that could reshape the economics of the global hydrogen sector.
