Surface reconstruction strategies enable affordable hydrogen fuel production
Characteristics of COP | F-20 and COP. a) A schematic composite illustration of COP | f on CFP. b) SEM image of COP on a single carbon fiber | F-20 nanosheets. Scale bar, 2 µm. c) Fake-colored TEM images of typical COP | F-20 nanosheets. Scale bar, 100 nm. d) Atomic Resolution Stem Image of COP | F-20. Scale bar, 1 nm. INSET UP RIGHT shows the corresponding FFT pattern, with the bottom left showing the crystal structure along the (101°) zone axis. COP | F-20 eSTEM-EDX element mapping. Shows uniform distribution of CO (green), P (blue), and F (red). Scale bar, 200 nm. COP | F-20 HAADF-STEM images of F-20 F and COP G, and the spacing h along the corresponding integrated pixel intensities (201) facets. Scale bar, 1 nm. i) COP | F-20 and COP catalysts for CO 2P and J) P 2P XPS SPECTRA. COP | K XANES spectra of CO K-EDED in F-20, COP, and CO foil. L) R-space curve fitting of the EXAFS spectra of COP | F-20 and COP. Credit: Advanced Energy Materials (2025). doi:10.1002/aenm.202405846
Hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) are an incredible process that can produce clean hydrogen fuels and are a potential part of the solution to the climate crisis. The problem lies in expanding this response from laboratory experiments to large-scale commercial production, while keeping costs down.
Researchers at Tohok University have demonstrated that her surface reconstruction pathways can generate non-new functional metal-based cathodes that are not durable, and speed up the reaction. They can maintain performance for over 300 hours and are calculated to cost very close to the US Department of Energy’s 2026 H2 production target ($2.00 per KGH2-1).
This paves the way for a reasonable design of new and efficient non-noble metal-based cathodes for commercial PEM applications.
The findings can be found in Advanced Energy Materials.
The angles that this study approached to try to improve her (essentially inefficient and tended to be slower) were the transition metal phosphide metal (TMP). This promising catalyst (which increases her efficiency) is a durable and cost-effective non-noble metal. However, because precious metals are usually used, researchers have recognized that there is a gap in knowledge about non-new functional metals that need to be met.
Electrochemically induced P-vacancy formation (PV) and theoretical calculations of her activities. (AC) (a) COP(010), (b) COP|F(010) calculated surface Pourbaix diagram of 2F doped underground with 1F and (c) underground with 2F. The term ∆G refers to the difference in Gibbs free energy between the primitive system and the system after the formation of phosphorus vacancy. (d) Identified surfaces with one monolayer PV formation. Blue, purple, and red spheres represent P, Co, and F, respectively. (e) Her volcanic activity model showing theoretical activity of the COP | F (010) surface using PV. Credit: Advanced Energy Materials (2025). doi:10.1002/aenm.202405846
The researchers prepared F-modified COPs and examined aspects such as their surface reconstruction and true active sites using Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and Raman measurements. Essentially, adding F to the COP1-X lattice will form a P vaCancy site on the surface, leading to an active site that can speed up her.
“This reconstructed CO is very active, operates in acidic conditions and can maintain approximately 76 W for over 300 hours,” says Heng Liu (Advanced Institute for Materials Research: WPI-IAMR).
“We are approaching an affordable way to produce fuel. The computational cost of using this method is $2.17 for the current production target set in 2026.”
Researchers found that this F-modified COP cathode had improved its activity when it was subjected to surface reconstruction. This experiment not only tests the setup in a lab-scale experimental setup using three electrodes, but also extends the findings to a commercial scale PEM electrolyzer.
COP’s PEM Test | F-20 Catalyst. (a) Schematic diagram of PEM cells. (b) The IV curve of a PEM electrolyzer using commercially available IRO2 uses COP | F-20 as the cathode catalyst. There was no IR compensation. (c) Time-dependent power and total H2 generation of PEM electrolytic factors using COP|F-20 with commercially available IRO2 as a cathode catalyst of 1 cm-2.
These results are important advancements in her catalytic research and could be the basis for the rational design of other non-noble metal-based cathodes.
“We are always thinking about the ultimate goal for research to advance into everyday life. This advancement brings us one step closer to designing more realistic options for commercial PEM applications,” says Liu.
Details: Rui Wu et al, Surface Reconstruction activates non-funny metal cathodes in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer, Advanced Energy Materials (2025). doi:10.1002/aenm.202405846
Provided by Tohoku University
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