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Revolutionary catalysts: Mainz discovers new secret for green hydrogen!
Scientists at the University of Mainz are developing innovative catalysts for efficient water splitting for sustainable hydrogen production.
Revolutionary catalysts: Mainz discovers new secret for green hydrogen!
On March 11, 2025, researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz made groundbreaking progress in research into green hydrogen production. They developed inexpensive and efficient water splitting catalysts made of cobalt and tungsten. These materials are not only easily accessible but also inexpensive, which significantly increases their applicability on an industrial scale. The comprehensive results were published in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
In contrast to conventional catalytic converters, which often suffer from a loss of performance, the newly developed catalytic converter shows remarkable self-optimization. Its efficiency increases over time, which is due to profound chemical changes during the water splitting process. Cobalt changes from Co2+ to Co3+, while the ratio of W5+ to W6+ changes in tungsten. These dynamics improve the reaction kinetics of oxygen evolution, which is considered a critical threshold in the process.
The innovative mechanism of water splitting
Another significant contribution to hydrogen production comes from researchers led by Dr. Paolo Giusto, who intensively investigated the mechanism of water splitting using carbon nitride catalysts. They were able to determine detailed interactions between carbon nitride and water, particularly the transfer of protons and electrons under the influence of light. Carbon nitride has been shown to be an effective catalyst, enabling hydrogen production via artificial photosynthesis.
The findings show that carbon nitride is able to break down water into its components oxygen and hydrogen. This process is crucial to advance the production of more efficient catalyst materials for hydrogen production from sunlight. The catalyst absorbs light and uses its energy to destabilize the water molecules, thereby causing a proton-coupled electron transfer that weakens the water's chemical bonds.
Perspectives for sustainable energy solutions
The developments in both research projects have far-reaching implications for future energy production. The self-optimization of the catalyst made from cobalt and tungsten could help to increase the efficiency of producing green hydrogen in the long term. At the same time, the findings on the dynamics of carbon nitride and water molecules provide a deeper basis of understanding for the formation of sustainable energy solutions.
The funding of research projects is also worth mentioning: Dandan Gao is supported as part of the DFG's Walter Benjamin program, which enables scientists in the qualification phase after their doctorate to carry out their own research projects. The project also receives support from the Carl Zeiss Foundation, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the JGU profile area SusInnoScience.
Overall, research into these catalysts brings sustainable hydrogen production closer and could make a decisive contribution to reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Future developments in hydrogen technology remain one of the most exciting areas in applied chemistry.