New electrolysis catalyst points to a cleaner hydrogen pathway

Researchers in South Korea say a new electrochemical catalyst could significantly improve hydrogen production. A team led by Professor Jin Young Kim at Seoul National University has developed a ruthenium-based catalyst that could replace platinum in water electrolysis, reducing both cost and environmental impact.

Platinum is currently the benchmark material used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, but its high price and limited durability have slowed large-scale deployment. The alternative uses small amounts of precious metals, built around a ruthenium nanocluster with a core-shell structure.

In laboratory tests, the catalyst showed higher efficiency and greater long-term stability than platinum, making it a more practical option for commercial electrolysers. If proven at scale, it could support hydrogen production for power generation, industrial processes and transport applications, including fuel cell vehicles.

By enabling hydrogen production using water, electricity and oxygen more efficiently, the researchers suggest the approach could push hydrogen beyond today’s definition of “green”, lowering emissions further while improving performance. However, they stress that further development and validation will be needed before the technology can be widely deployed.

Read more: Korean scientists create catalyst for super green hydrogen