KIMS researchers develop durable hydrogen catalyst

Researchers at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) have developed a new platinum-nickel catalyst designed to improve the durability of green hydrogen production. The catalyst, featuring an atomically ordered intermetallic structure (o-PtNi/C), was tested in an anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer.

During continuous operation, the catalyst maintained its performance for 3,000 hours, representing approximately 125 days of use. Testing showed less than 2% performance degradation, significantly outperforming conventional disordered catalysts which can experience nickel loss as high as 54%. By arranging atoms in a defined crystal lattice, researchers were able to prevent nickel from dissolving during the electrolysis process.

While this advancement addresses a major technical hurdle in water electrolysis, experts note that 3,000 hours represents only 3% to 4% of the durability required for industrial-scale electrolyzers, which aim for tens of thousands of hours. Consequently, while the development is a significant step toward reducing maintenance and replacement costs, it does not yet make green hydrogen cost-competitive with other energy sources.