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Molecular Foundry

HIGHLIGHTSA New Catalyst for Producing Hydrogen from Liquid Carriers
November 10, 2020

Scientific Achievement

Schematic illustration of the formation of defective BN nanosheets and further deposition of Ni nanoclusters. Defective BN nanosheets (B) were prepared from bulk BN (A). Ni nanoclusters were deposited onto the BN nanosheets (D).

Foundry staff and users designed and created a nickel-based catalyst that is stable and highly effective at making hydrogen from liquid carriers.

Significance and Impact

The new catalyst is best in its class in terms of hydrogen productivity and is much cheaper than alternatives. It points the way towards cheap, safe hydrogen delivery and will help make hydrogen a viable energy source for a wider range of applications.

Research Details

  • The researchers designed and synthesized the catalyst by depositing ultrasmall nickel nanoclusters on defect-rich boron nitride (BN) nanosheets.
  • The interface of the BN substrate plays a key role in guiding the nucleation and growth of Ni nanoclusters and stabilizes them against poisoning and sintering.
  • X-ray spectroscopy and DFT calculations revealed that Ni nucleation preferentially occurs at defect sites, leading to the catalyst’s high productivity, selectivity and stability.
Z. Zhang, J. Su, A. Sanz Matias, M. Gordon, Y-S Liu, J. Guo, C. Song, C. Dun, D. Prendergast, G. Somorjai, J.J. Urban. PNAS. 2020 117(47). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015897117

Read the press release.

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