Newly Discovered Inexpensive Hydrogen Metal CatalystMolybdenum-oxo complex, a newly discovered inexpensive hydrogen metal catalyst. Yes. I agree that only when a relatively cheap, efficient and carbon-neutral method can hydrogen command a key role in future renewable energy technologies. In a recent news, hydrogen is claimed to be produced using diodes to perform electrolysis on water with a SEC exciter. A minimum energy input and high energy output hydrogen production process. And here's some news from Hemamala Karunadasa, one of the co-discoverers of this metal catalyst... 
"Our new proton reduction catalyst is based on a molybdenum-oxo metal complex that is about 70 times cheaper than platinum, today's most widely used metal catalyst for splitting the water molecule. 'In addition, our catalyst does not require organic additives, and can operate in neutral water, even if it is dirty, and can operate in sea water, the most abundant source of hydrogen on earth and a natural electrolyte. These qualities make our catalyst ideal for renewable energy and sustainable chemistry.' “The basic scientific challenge has been to create earth-abundant molecular systems that produce hydrogen from water with high catalytic activity and stability,” Chang says. “We believe our discovery of a molecular molybdenum-oxo catalyst for generating hydrogen from water without the use of additional acids or organic co-solvents establishes a new chemical paradigm for creating reduction catalysts that are highly active and robust in aqueous media.” The molybdenum-oxo complex with a chemical name of (PY5Me2)Mo-oxo is a high valence metal. The research team composed of Karunadasa, Chang, and Long found that the newly discovered hydrogen metal catalyst can generate hydrogen from neutral buffered water or even sea water with a turnover frequency of 2.4 moles of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per second. 
From left, Jeffrey Long, Christopher Chang and Hemamala Karunadasa Long says, “This metal-oxo complex represents a distinct molecular motif for reduction catalysis that has high activity and stability in water. We are now focused on modifying the PY5Me ligand portion of the complex and investigating other metal complexes based on similar ligand platforms to further facilitate electrical charge-driven as well as light-driven catalytic processes. Our particular emphasis is on chemistry relevant to sustainable energy cycles.” Hydrogen at this point has been slowly claiming its position as an alternative source of energy, breakthrough after breakthrough... Join in the fun of making hydrogen as a new source of clean and green energy. Return to Hydrogen News Page
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