Articles tagged with "catalysts"
China's new zinc‑air batteries offer stable cycling for 200 hours
Researchers from Central South University and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in China have developed a novel catalyst, Cl–Fe–N4, that significantly enhances the performance and stability of alkaline seawater zinc-air batteries (SZABs). Traditional Pt/C cathodes degrade rapidly in seawater due to chloride ion poisoning, which disrupts the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The new catalyst employs a universal oxidative-polymerization method to create a five-coordinated square pyramidal structure by axially coordinating Fe–N4 single-atom sites with heteroatoms such as chlorine or sulfur. This design repels chloride ions and doubles the reaction kinetics, resulting in a seawater-based zinc-air battery with a power density of 187.7 mW cm−2 at 245.1 mA cm−2 and stable cycling performance for 200 hours. The study, published in Nano-Micro Letters, demonstrates that Cl–Fe–N4 outperforms commercial Pt/C catalysts by achieving
energyzinc-air-batteriescatalystsseawater-energy-storageoxygen-reduction-reactionmaterials-scienceenergy-storage-devicesMore efficient, scalable electrolyzers advance green hydrogen production
The STELAH project, in its first year, has made significant strides in developing next-generation alkaline electrolysis technologies to enhance renewable hydrogen production. Led by Tecnicas Reunidas with partners Matteco, AIJU, and the University of Valencia, the consortium has focused on creating advanced catalysts, electrodes, and stack configurations that improve efficiency, durability, and scalability. Notably, Matteco developed new catalytic materials for both anode and cathode components that avoid scarce platinum-based materials, instead using more accessible alternatives with higher electrochemical activity and stability. These materials have been validated under representative operating conditions and scaled to the project’s targeted sizes, demonstrating strong potential for industrial deployment. Building on these promising results, the project is now moving toward integrating the optimized materials into full-size electrolyzer prototypes and modular stacks, aiming to bring the technology closer to commercial application. Supported by approximately $1 million in public funding from the Valencian Innovation Agency and the EU’s FEDER program, the initiative combines expertise in materials
energygreen-hydrogenelectrolyzersalkaline-electrolysiscatalystsrenewable-energydecarbonizationQuantum chemistry could enable safer, chlorine-free water disinfection
US researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, Drexel University, and Brookhaven National Laboratory have used quantum chemistry to uncover why tin oxide-based catalysts for ozone generation degrade under high-voltage electrolysis. Their study identified that microscopic surface defects on these catalysts both promote ozone production—a powerful, chlorine-free disinfectant—and simultaneously cause corrosion that limits catalyst lifespan. This paradoxical relationship between activity and stability explains why nickel- and antimony-doped tin oxides (NATO), previously considered promising for electrolysis-based ozone generation, degrade too quickly for practical use. By combining computational analysis with experimental validation, the team pinpointed the trade-offs between catalytic activity and durability, providing key design principles for developing longer-lasting, chlorine-free water disinfection systems. Such systems could generate ozone on demand directly in water, eliminating the hazards and carcinogenic byproducts associated with chlorine transport, storage, and use. This advancement has the potential to improve safety and sustainability in hospitals, municipal water treatment, and remote facilities. The findings were
energymaterialsquantum-chemistrywater-disinfectioncatalystsozone-generationelectrolysisPeat turned into low-cost catalyst, could replace platinum in fuel cells
Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, PTB, and Estonian universities have demonstrated that well-decomposed peat can serve as a sustainable, low-cost precursor for iron–nitrogen–carbon (Fe-N-C) catalysts, potentially replacing expensive platinum in fuel cells. Platinum currently dominates as the catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in anion exchange membrane fuel cells, but its high cost limits widespread adoption. Fe-N-C catalysts derived from peat offer a cheaper alternative, with complex porous structures that facilitate efficient transport of hydrogen, oxygen, and water, enhancing fuel cell performance. Using advanced small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques at the BESSY II synchrotron, the team analyzed the microstructure of peat-derived catalysts synthesized at varying temperatures and with different pore-modifying agents. They identified 13 structural factors influencing catalytic efficiency, notably that a pore curvature of at least three nanometers improves oxygen reduction and reduces unwanted hydrogen peroxide formation. This detailed structural insight,
energyfuel-cellscatalystsplatinum-replacementiron-nitrogen-carbonsustainable-materialsanion-exchange-membrane-fuel-cells13,000x faster: Google’s chip delivers first verifiable quantum edge
Google Quantum AI has announced a significant milestone with its 105-qubit Willow processor and a new algorithm called Quantum Echoes, achieving the first verifiable quantum advantage. Running on 65 qubits, the algorithm completed a task approximately 13,000 times faster than the best classical supercomputer, Frontier. Unlike previous demonstrations of quantum supremacy, which relied on random circuit sampling with limited practical use and unverifiable results, Quantum Echoes produces reproducible and verifiable outcomes across different quantum systems. This breakthrough addresses a critical challenge in quantum computing by enabling confidence in the correctness of quantum data, which is essential for real-world applications. The Quantum Echoes algorithm operates in three stages: performing quantum operations simulating molecular behavior, perturbing one qubit slightly, and then reversing the operations to compare results. This process reveals how small changes propagate through a molecular system, a task that classical supercomputers struggle to handle. The success of this experiment is attributed to Willow’s large qubit count and exceptionally low error
quantum-computingGoogle-Quantum-AIquantum-algorithmmaterials-scienceenergy-storagepolymerscatalystsNew 5,432°F-method can boost hydrogen production efficiency by 6-fold
Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a groundbreaking ultrahigh temperature method that can increase hydrogen production efficiency by six times while drastically reducing energy consumption. This novel technique uses a 0.02-second flash of light to rapidly generate temperatures of 5,432°F (3,000°C), enabling the ultrafast synthesis and functionalization of carbon nanoonions (CNOs) from chemically inert nanodiamond precursors. The process, called direct-contact photothermal annealing, achieves this temperature in under 0.02 seconds and reduces energy use by more than a thousandfold compared to conventional catalyst synthesis methods. A key innovation of this method is its ability to simultaneously restructure the CNO support material and embed single-atom catalysts (SACs) of eight different metals in a single step, significantly simplifying and accelerating catalyst production. The resulting SAC-functionalized CNOs exhibit exceptional catalytic performance, particularly demonstrated by platinum SACs in hydrogen evolution reactions
energyhydrogen-productioncatalystsphotothermal-annealingcarbon-nanoonionsclean-energymaterials-scienceRecord hydrogen fuel recipe cooked by US scientists to power trucks
US scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a novel hydrogen fuel cell catalyst that significantly enhances performance and durability, potentially enabling practical use in heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses. The catalyst features a nitrogen-doped high-entropy intermetallic core composed of platinum (Pt), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu), encapsulated by a single-atom-thick platinum shell. This atomic-scale engineering introduces sub-angstrom distortions in the catalyst’s structure, strengthening metal-nitrogen bonds and improving both reactivity and resilience under harsh operating conditions. Tested under rigorous simulations mimicking heavy-duty truck use, the new catalyst endured over 90,000 operating cycles—equivalent to 25,000 hours of continuous operation—while surpassing current Department of Energy (DOE) performance targets. This breakthrough addresses a key challenge in fuel cell technology: creating catalysts durable and efficient enough for demanding commercial transport applications. The research demonstrates a practical pathway toward widespread adoption
hydrogen-fuelfuel-cellscatalystsenergy-storageheavy-duty-vehiclesplatinum-catalystBrookhaven-National-LaboratoryLow-cost green hydrogen production possible with new breakthrough
Researchers at Hanyang University ERICA campus in South Korea have developed a new class of cobalt phosphide-based nanomaterials that significantly lower the cost of green hydrogen production. By adjusting boron doping and phosphorus content through metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), the team created catalysts with superior performance and affordability compared to conventional electrocatalysts. These materials exhibit large surface areas and mesoporous structures, enhancing their electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The best-performing sample demonstrated notably low overpotentials of 248 mV for OER and 95 mV for HER, outperforming previously reported catalysts. The innovative synthesis involved growing cobalt-based MOFs on nickel foam, followed by boron doping via sodium borohydride treatment and phosphorization with sodium hypophosphite. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the combination of boron doping and optimized phosphorus content improved interactions with reaction intermediates, driving the enhanced
energygreen-hydrogencatalystsnanomaterialsmetal-organic-frameworkselectrocatalysissustainable-energyAcid vapor lets CO2 capture tech run 4,500+ hours without failures
Researchers at Rice University have developed a simple yet effective modification to electrochemical carbon capture systems that dramatically extends their operational lifespan. By replacing the conventional water-based humidification of CO2 gas with mild acid vapors—such as hydrochloric, formic, or acetic acid—the team prevented the formation of potassium bicarbonate salt deposits that typically clog gas flow channels and flood electrodes. This acid vapor approach dissolves the problematic salts, allowing them to be carried away with the gas flow, thereby avoiding blockages that cause premature device failure. Testing showed that this acid-based humidification enabled stable operation for over 4,500 hours in a 100-square-centimeter electrolyzer—more than 50 times longer than the roughly 80 hours achievable with traditional water humidification. The method proved effective across various catalysts including silver, zinc oxide, copper oxide, and bismuth oxide, without causing significant membrane corrosion due to the low acid concentrations used. Because the modification requires only minor changes to existing humidification setups
energycarbon-captureCO2-reductionelectrochemical-systemscatalystsacid-vapormembrane-technologyPrecisely built platinum-based catalyst oxidizes CO nine times better
catalystsplatinumceriumchemical-reactionsenergy-efficiencymaterials-sciencecarbon-monoxide-oxidationMagnetic fields supercharge catalysts for cleaner water and cheaper ammonia
energymaterialscatalystsammonia-productionwastewater-treatmentmagnetic-fieldselectrochemistryJapan: Scientists develop new trick to trap ammonia from air, water
energyammonia-productionartificial-photosynthesiscatalystssustainable-agriculturecarbon-emissionsphotocatalysis