New palladium catalyst points to drastic reduction in hydrogen energy costs

A new palladium-containing catalyst could accelerate the large-scale rollout of green hydrogen energy.

The novel two-dimension material with Pd was studied in detail in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process, catalysing the electrolysis of water into oxygen and hydrogen. As part of the HER process, the hydrogen atoms generated at the electrode’s surface are converted during electrolysis into hydrogen gas, H₂. This gas can then be used in a number of industries, from clean energy and the treatment of metals to fertiliser production and food processing. Nevertheless, scarcity and high cost of catalysts significantly increase hydrogen manufacturing expenses, limiting its large-scale application.

The study published earlier this year in the Chemistry: A European Journal reports about synthesized bis(diimino)palladium coordination nanosheets (PdDI) catalyst. PdDI nanosheets have maximised catalytic activity and use only a fraction of the amount of precious metals compared with traditional platinum, and therefore present an opportunity to revolutionize the production of hydrogen.

The research was led by Professor Hiroshi Nishihara, a renowned researcher in coordination chemistry and electrochemistry, and Dr Hiroaki Maeda, both of whom from the Tokyo University of Science. The work was conducted in collaboration with researchers from a number of other institutions, including the University of Tokyo, the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), the Kyoto Institute of Technology, RIKEN SPring-8 Center (RSC), and the National Institute for Materials Science of Japan.

The team synthesised PdDI nanosheets using two methods: gas-liquid interfacial synthesis (C-PdDI) and electrochemical oxidation (E-PdDI). The activated E-PdDI demonstrated remarkable catalytic performance, comparable to metallic platinum. E-PdDI exhibits low overpotential of 34mV and an exchange current density of 2.1 mA/cm2 which matches platinum’s catalytic activity. Additionally, the material demonstrated its robustness after 12 hours in an acidic environment, confirming a strong likelihood of being long-term stable and therefore a viable material in the large-scale production of hydrogen as low cost alternative to platinum. According to Dr Maeda, “Our research brings us one step closer to making H₂ production more affordable and sustainable, a crucial step for achieving a clean energy future.”
With regard to hydrogen, as an emerging energy source it could play a major role in the energy transition towards clean and sustainable zero-emissions power. The latest catalytic development could help researchers overcome the prohibitive costs of existing solutions, which have slowed the scaling up of hydrogen energy. The study was selected as a cover feature for the Chemistry: A European Journal underscoring the importance of the findings.

In addition to the production of hydrogen through electrolysis, palladium also has huge prospects to play a key role in storage and transportation of H2. In a standard temperature and pressure environment, palladium can absorb as much as 900 times its own volume of hydrogen, making it an excellent carrier. In fuel cells, hydrogen is fed into an anode and oxygen-containing air is fed to the cathode, with a catalyst generating electricity. The only byproduct of this process is water.

Research into new palladium applications and technologies is underway all over the world, with significant potential in key industries such as power generation, transportation and the chemical sector. Palladium’s unique properties, such as its catalytic activity and ability to absorb large amounts of hydrogen, make it highly sought-after in green technologies. In addition to hydrogen energy, the precious metal is being studied with a view to advancing the circular economy in solar panels, water purification and microelectronics.

Source: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.202403082