Oregon State University researchers develop new hydrogen catalyst

Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new photocatalyst, designated as BVR-19, which uses light to produce green hydrogen from water. This metal-organic framework (MOF) utilizes sulfur-containing organic building blocks to capture light energy and facilitate electron transfer, rather than relying on expensive metal catalysts.

Led by Kyriakos Stylianou of the OSU College of Science, the team designed the material to feature an unusual sulfide-to-sulfide bond that temporarily breaks when exposed to light. This process generates reactive sulfur species that enable the material to split water and generate hydrogen. Because the material can form spontaneously in aqueous solutions at room temperature, the energy required for initial synthesis is reduced.

This breakthrough offers a potential blueprint for lowering the cost of green hydrogen production. Currently, green hydrogen costs approximately $5 per kilogram, significantly higher than the $1.50 per kilogram associated with traditional natural gas methods such as methane-steam reforming.