Researchers at Umeå University have now taken an important step towards understanding how molybdenum works in nickel–iron–molybdenum catalysts. These catalysts are vital for high efficiency water electrolysis. Through this process water is split into hydrogen and oxygen, giving us a clean-burning fuel source. The research published in the journal Communications Materials highlights the key role molybdenum plays in improving the activity of these catalysts to enable high performance. It overcomes the barrier of possible washout during the reaction.
The first author of the study is Mouna Rafei, a Doctoral Student at Umeå University, where she leads this interdisciplinary work. Senior author Eduardo Gracia, also of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, oversaw the investigation. They explored how the 3D structure of the catalyst was pretty complex. Their motivation was the presence of a distorted octahedral site and how this influences the O K-edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) spectrum.
Nickel–iron–molybdenum catalysts are well-known for their effectiveness in driving the electrolysis of water. Molybdenum is critical to the ongoing performance of these catalysts. What these researchers discovered was amazing. During the process they discovered that molybdenum can leach out from the catalyst but does not play a role in the atomic structure alterations. This surprising discovery raises additional questions concerning the long-term catalyst stability and efficiency in actual deployment.
The team’s investigations led to the discovery that nickel oxyhydroxides embedded in trimetallic nickel–iron–molybdenum oxides are produced and stabilized early on in the reaction. This stabilization probably increases the durability and the activity of the catalyst’s efficiency. This is an important space for future RD&D investments and knowledge reinforcement for hydropower-enabled hydrogen production technologies.
The implications of this study are profound, especially for clean energy programs. As the world shifts towards sustainable energy solutions, understanding the nuances of catalyst behavior can lead to more efficient hydrogen production methods.
