"Only One-Tenth the Platinum Used"... Seoul National University and Stanford Develop Next-Generation Hydrogen Catalyst [Reading Science]

Enhanced Hydrogen Production Efficiency and Durability Through Precision Control of Atom Count
"Performance Differs Despite Similar Apparent Size"
Unveiling the Secret of Atom Numbers
Published in Science
"Production at Tens-of-Gram Scale Possible; Industrialization Expected"

A joint research team from Seoul National University and Stanford University has developed next-generation catalyst technology that significantly enhances both hydrogen production efficiency and catalyst durability, while reducing platinum usage to one-tenth of conventional levels. The researchers have also become the first in the world to demonstrate that it is not the 'size' of the catalyst particles, but the actual number of constituent atoms that determines their performance.

On May 29, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that the Seoul National University–Stanford international joint research team, participating in the 'Top-Tier Research Institution Cooperative Platform Establishment and Joint Research Support Program (Top-Tier Program),' has developed platinum cluster catalyst technology that achieves world-leading hydrogen production performance and catalyst lifespan.

Schematic diagram of selective formation of uniform clusters and electron microscopy observation results by formation process. Using a methanol-based reduction process, ligands around platinum atoms were removed, inducing platinum atoms to directly bind to the catalyst support. Subsequently, through air calcination and hydrogen reduction processes, uniform platinum clusters strongly bonded to the support were formed. Electron microscopy analysis confirmed that even clusters of similar size had different actual numbers of constituent atoms. Provided by the research team.

This research was jointly conducted by the team led by Professor Park Jeongwon of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Seoul National University and the teams led by Professors Thomas F. Jaramillo and Matteo Cargnello of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University.

The research findings were published in the international journal Science on May 29.

Although hydrogen is drawing attention as a key clean energy source in the era of carbon neutrality, hydrogen storage and transport technologies based on Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs) have been limited by the need for expensive precious metal catalysts. In particular, the process of extracting hydrogen again requires a large amount of platinum catalyst, which has raised concerns about economic feasibility.

"Number of Atoms Determines Performance"... Precision Control of Platinum Clusters

The joint research team introduced a new synthesis strategy that removes chemical ligands surrounding platinum atoms and enables direct bonding of the platinum atoms to the catalyst support.

Through this approach, the team succeeded in fabricating uniform platinum atom clusters (clusters) around 1 nanometer (nm) in size—roughly one hundred-thousandth the thickness of a human hair.

Analysis Method at the Atomic Number Level of Similar-Sized Clusters and Cluster Catalyst Analysis. Through electron microscopy-based analysis, the platinum clusters were precisely analyzed at the atomic number level. It was confirmed that even similar clusters about 1 nanometer (nm) in size can have actual constituent atomic numbers ranging from 13 to 31 depending on the metal concentration. Provided by the research team

This catalyst maximized the utilization efficiency of platinum atoms while being firmly anchored to the support, demonstrating high durability.

Notably, using a newly developed electron microscopy analysis method, the researchers were the first in the world to confirm that, even among platinum clusters of similar apparent size, the actual number of constituent atoms could vary from 13 to 31.

Previously, it was believed that catalyst particles of similar size would exhibit similar performance. However, this study demonstrated that the 'number of atoms' itself is the key variable determining both hydrogen production performance and durability.

The Seoul National University research team was responsible for catalyst synthesis, structural analysis, and performance verification, while the Stanford team conducted atom-level reaction mechanism and adsorption property calculations, combining experimental and computational analysis.

"Production at Tens-of-Gram Scale Possible"... Commercialization Prospects for the Hydrogen Economy

When the research team's newly developed catalyst was applied to actual hydrogen extraction reactions, platinum usage was reduced to one-tenth compared to conventional commercial catalysts, yet both hydrogen production and catalyst lifespan improved significantly.

Comparison of Hydrogen Production Performance Based on Dehydrogenation of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers. In the hydrogen production experiments using methylcyclohexane, a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC), platinum clusters with fewer atoms showed higher catalytic performance per platinum atom but tended to have lower stability. On the other hand, the 0.5wt% Pt/Al₂O₃ cluster catalyst developed by the research team demonstrated higher hydrogen production activity and durability while reducing the platinum usage to one-tenth compared to conventional commercial catalysts. Provided by the research team

Additionally, this synthesis method allows for single-process production at the tens-of-gram scale in laboratory settings, and the research team believes there are no significant barriers to further mass production.

Professor Park Jeongwon of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Seoul National University stated, "This research goes beyond simple catalyst size optimization to maximize hydrogen production performance through precision structural control at the atomic scale," adding, "It can serve as a core catalyst platform technology leading the hydrogen economy."

Hwang Sunghoon, Director General for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, commented, "This is a representative example of world-leading international joint research achievements pursued by the Top-Tier Program," and added, "We will continue to actively support the creation of globally recognized research outcomes through international cooperation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.