A Pipeline of Innovation for the Green Hydrogen Economy
A research team has developed two complementary catalyst technologies that address the core bottleneck limiting large-scale green hydrogen production. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis offers high current density, high gas purity, and rapid start-stop capabilities, but widespread adoption is impeded by high costs-approximately three times higher than alkaline water electrolysis. The membrane electrode alone accounts for 24% of PEM system costs due to its reliance on noble metal catalysts (platinum and iridium oxide).
The team led by Professor Ni Meng is tackling this challenge through two parallel approaches: a near-term solution using cost-effective ruthenium-based catalysts, and a next-generation platform based on novel two-dimensional metal oxide composites. Together, they offer a pipeline of innovation that delivers immediate cost reduction while inventing the future of electrolyzer performance.
Track A: Low-Cost, High-Performance Ru-Based Catalysts
The Innovation
This project develops ruthenium-based alternatives to expensive iridium catalysts. Ruthenium is priced at only 1/2 of platinum and 1/10 of iridium, offering a dramatic cost advantage. The team has successfully developed a novel antimony-stabilized ruthenium oxide (SbRuO₂) catalyst entirely at PolyU.
Key Achievements
Through electrochemical testing, the SbRuO₂ catalyst demonstrates:
• Reduce the mass of catalysts by 40 % and 60 % than commercial RuO2 and IrO2 respectively at 1.5V
• Reduce the cost of catalysts by 50 % and 80 % than commercial RuO2 and IrO2 respectively at 1.5V
• Stable performance in acidic media
Industrial Impact
Successful industrial-scale integration of SbRuO₂ holds promise for:
• 23% reduction in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) costs for PEM systems
• 5.5% reduction in the overall cost of PEM electrolysis
Track B: Novel 2D Metal Oxide Composite Nanomaterials
The Innovation
This project introduces a new class of two-dimensional ruthenium- and iridium-based metal oxide composite nanomaterials with precisely engineered phases, interfaces, and electronic structures. Unlike conventional bulk or nanoparticulate RuO₂/IrO₂ catalysts, this research focuses on metastable two-dimensional architectures, heterophase coupling, and interface-enabled oxygen migration.
Technical Advantages
• Two-dimensional architectures enable high atomic utilization and maximized active sites
• Enhanced charge transport and oxygen intermediate migration
• Faster oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics under acidic conditions
• Improved durability at lower noble-metal loadings
Potential Impact
By fundamentally improving OER kinetics and durability under acidic conditions, this technology addresses one of the core bottlenecks limiting large-scale PEM water electrolysis. The project can significantly reduce the cost and energy consumption of green hydrogen production by improving electrolyzer efficiency and lifetime, supporting the hydrogen economy and accelerating decarbonization of energy-intensive industries.
