Turning rust into fuel: MANA advances green rust catalyst for next-gen hydrogen vehicles

Researchers from the Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), one of the centers under the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan, report an inexpensive iron hydroxide catalyst that could support the use of sodium borohydride as a hydrogen storage material.

As the world moves toward hydrogen-powered societies, one major challenge remains: storing and releasing hydrogen efficiently. Sodium borohydride (SBH) is a promising hydrogen storage material that can generate hydrogen through simple contact with water. However, this reaction typically relies on expensive catalysts made from precious metals like platinum, limiting its large-scale use.

In a recent breakthrough, researchers from the Layered Nanochemistry Group at MANA, led by group leader Dr. Yusuke Ide, along with Mr. Ezz-Elregal M. Ezz-Elregal and Dr. Mitsutake Oshikiri, developed a cost-effective, high-performance catalyst using ‘green rust’— a mixed-valent iron hydroxide mineral once considered too unstable for practical use.

The key lies in modifying green rust particles with a copper chloride solution. This process forms nanoscale copper oxide clusters at the particle’s edges, generating highly active sites for hydrogen production. The green rust structure also absorbs sunlight, transferring energy through the copper clusters to boost the reaction’s efficiency even further.

Performance tests revealed that the new catalyst achieves a high turnover frequency for hydrogen production comparable to or even exceeding those of traditional precious metal-based materials. It also showed excellent durability, maintaining catalytic activity through repeated use.

What makes this breakthrough especially promising is its scalability and practicality. The catalyst works at room temperature, is relatively easy to produce, and could integrate well with existing SBH-based hydrogen systems. With low-cost SBH production already being developed and pilot projects using the technology in hydrogen-powered ships, this advancement could accelerate the global shift to clean hydrogen energy.

“We expect that our catalyst will be used for hydrogen fuel cells in many onboard applications like cars and ships,” says Dr. Ide, “This will hopefully lead to various forms of emission-free mobility.”

Research Highlights Vol. 93

https://www.nims.go.jp/mana/research/researchactivities/highlights/vol93.html

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.5c01894

About Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA)

The Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) is one of the core research centers of the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS). Established in 2007 under the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), MANA pioneers the concept of Nanoarchitectonics to design innovative materials at the nanoscale level. MANA promotes world-class research, fosters global collaboration, and supports the development of young scientists. With a strong international presence and interdisciplinary approach, MANA continues to lead in advancing materials science for a more sustainable and innovative future.

Website: https://www.nims.go.jp/mana/index.html

MANA Research Highlights

MANA independently selects and publishes its exceptional research achievements as “Research Highlights,” which are different from the official ‘Press releases’ disseminated by NIMS, with the purpose of showcasing its research outcomes.

https://www.nims.go.jp/mana/research/researchactivities/highlights/index.html

About the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)

The WPI was launched in 2007 by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), to foster globally visible research centers exhibiting the highest standards and outstanding research environments. With over a dozen centers that operate at several institutions throughout the country, these centers are given a high degree of autonomy, allowing them to pursue innovative modes of management and research. This program is supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

See the latest research news from the centers at the:

WPI News Portal: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsportal/WPI

WPI program website: https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-toplevel/index.html