| Aug 26, 2025 |
Scalable MOF electrodes cut hydrogen costs and boost clean energy potentialResearchers developed scalable MOF electrodes that lower hydrogen costs to $2.71 per kg, offering a practical path toward large-scale clean energy production.(Nanowerk News) Researchers in China have developed a new type of electrode that could make hydrogen production cheaper and more sustainable. The study, published in Nature Chemical Engineering ("Scalable metal–organic framework-based electrodes for efficient alkaline water electrolysis") by the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, describes how the team created scalable metal-organic framework (MOF) electrodes for alkaline water electrolysis. |
| Hydrogen is increasingly viewed as a clean fuel that could replace fossil fuels in heavy industry and transport. One of the most promising production routes is water splitting powered by renewable electricity, but the process has struggled with costly and inefficient electrodes. In particular, the oxygen evolution reaction, which drives hydrogen release, is slow and energy intensive. |
| The team overcame these hurdles by using ultrasonication to produce MOF powders in kilogram quantities and room-temperature electrodeposition to assemble large-area electrodes. When installed in alkaline electrolysis systems, the electrodes achieved low energy consumption of 4.11 kilowatt hours per cubic meter of hydrogen and operated reliably for more than 5,000 hours. |
| The key to their performance is cerium doping, which modifies the electronic structure of cobalt active sites to accelerate the oxygen reaction. The material’s distorted lattice and large surface area also improve gas and liquid flow, boosting overall catalytic efficiency. |
| As a result, the electrodes enabled hydrogen production at just $2.71 per kilogram, making them competitive with existing industrial technologies. The researchers say the method’s simple synthesis and scalability could pave the way for commercial adoption of MOF-based electrolysis. Future work will focus on fine-tuning the process to ensure consistent results at scale and adapting the technology to different industrial systems. |
| Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences (Note: Content may be edited for style and length) |
