Efficient electrolysis can produce green hydrogen
Scientists from the Swedish KTH university have developed a new material made of nickel, iron, and copper, which can make electric hydrogen production much more efficient. When hydrogen is produced in electrolysis, the water is energized and split into hydrogen and oxygen. To make the process more efficient, catalysts are typically used, i.e. substances that speed up the split.
The reactions require overpotential. With the new catalyst, the process takes place at a much lower overpotential, so instead of 250 millivolts, only 180 millivolts are required – an improvement of about one third. This is important, as electrolysis is a green alternative to existing production methods, but rarely used, as it requires too much energy.