Mar
7
Ruhr-University Bochum scientists have demonstrated that cube-shaped cobalt oxide nanoparticles are more efficient than spherical ones. The new creates a path for the systematic design of cost-effective and efficient catalysts for green hydrogen.
Previously researchers couldn’t determine whether spheres or cubes were the best. This has now changed following the development of a new method.
The researchers reported their findings in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
Research has shown that cube-shaped nanoparticles (right) are more efficient catalysts for electrolysis than spherical ones. Image Credit: © Kristina Tschulik, Ruhr-University Bochum. Click the press release link for the largest view.
The group is led by Professor Kristina Tschulik, head of the Chair of Electrochemistry and Nanoscale Materials at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. In collaboration with researchers from the University of Duisburg-Essen, she successfully proved that cube-shaped cobalt oxide nanoparticles are more efficient than spherical ones.
How to make electrolysis competitive
So called grey hydrogen is widely used today and is obtained from oil and natural gas. Efforts are underway to replace it with green hydrogen, which comes from renewable sources. Green hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis, a process where electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
However, several challenges still need to be tackled to render electrolysis a competitive approach. At present, the water splitting process is only efficient to a limited degree, and there are not enough powerful, durable and cost-effective catalysts for the job.
Professor Tschulik said, “Currently, the most active electrocatalysts are based on the rare and expensive precious metals iridium, ruthenium and platinum. As researchers, our job is therefore to develop new, highly active electrocatalysts that are free of precious metals.”
Her research group studies catalysts in the form of base metal oxide nanoparticles that are a million times smaller than a human hair. Manufactured on an industrial scale, they vary in shape, size and chemical composition.
Tschulik explained, “We use measurements to examine so-called catalyst inks, in which billions of particles are mixed with binders and additives.”
This method only allows researchers to measure an average performance, but not the activity of individual particles – which is what really matters.
Dr. Hatem Amin, postdoctoral researcher in analytical chemistry at Ruhr University Bochum noted the principal point, “If we knew which particle shape or crystal facet – the surfaces that point outwards – is most active, we could specifically produce particles with that exact shape.”
Winner of the nanoparticle race
The research group has developed a method to analyze individual particles directly in solution. This enables them to compare the activity of different nanomaterials with each other in order to understand the influence of particle properties such as their shape and composition on water splitting.
“Our results indicate that cobalt oxide particles in the form of individual cubes are more active than spheres, as the latter always have several other, less active facets,” Amin said.
Theory confirms experiment
The Bochum group’s experimental findings were confirmed by its cooperation partners headed by Professor Rossitza Pentcheva from the University of Duisburg-Essen as part of the Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio 247. The latter’s theoretical analyses indicate a change in the active catalyst regions, namely from cobalt atoms that are surrounded by oxygen atoms forming an octahedron to cobalt atoms that are surrounded by a tetrahedron.
Professor Tschulik concluded the press release with, “Our insights into the correlation between particle shape and activity lay the foundation for knowledge-based design of viable catalyst materials and, consequently, for the transformation of our fossil energy and chemical industries towards a circular economy based on renewable energy sources and highly active, long-lasting catalysts.”
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The catalyst news just gets better and better. This work could be a spark that will impact a wide range of catalysts that may affect the full range of catalysts. How far that might improve process chemistry defies estimation .
The journal Advanced Functional Materials cover page highlighted this work. It deserves attention for an extended period in hopes more folks will see the work and its potential.
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