A research team led by the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), the University of Twente and additional partners has made a crucial discovery in the field of sustainable hydrogen production. The research focused on controlling the activity of the oxygen evolution reaction in electrocatalysts.
Hydrogen – illustrative photo. Image credit: Pixabay (Free Pixabay license)
By producing nano-catalysts with a specific surface orientation, a significant step has been taken in optimising electrocatalysts. This development contributes to cost-effective and sustainable hydrogen production, a vital element in the transition to green energy.
The crystalline material used, lanthanum nickel oxide films (LaNiO3), revealed the transformation of upper layers during the reaction, resulting in enhanced activity. The collaboration between experiments and simulations was crucial for understanding this discovery.
Chris Baeumer (Associate Professor, Inorganic Materials Science): “We engineered catalysts using a unique method, pulsed laser deposition, guaranteeing the involvement of only one crystal facet in the reaction. This is generally not achievable with traditional methods. Our findings that specific facets are markedly more active and stable. This is crucial information for designing catalysts in practical applications.”
More information can be found in the full press release and the associated scientific article.
Source: University of Twente