Entirely New, Inexpensive Catalyst Speeds the Production of Oxygen From Water

Illustration depicts an electrochemical reaction, splitting water molecules (at right, with oxygen atom in red, and two hydrogen atoms in white) into oxygen molecules (at left), taking place within the structure of the team’s metal hydroxide organic frameworks, depicted as the lattices at top and bottom. Credit: Courtesy of the researchers

The material could replace rare metals and lead to more economical production of carbon-neutral fuels.

An electrochemical reaction that splits apart water molecules to produce oxygen is at the heart of multiple approaches aiming to produce alternative fuels for transportation. But this reaction has to be facilitated by a catalyst material, and today’s versions require the use of rare and expensive elements such as iridium, limiting the potential of such fuel production.

Now, researchers at Entirely New, Inexpensive Catalyst Speeds the Production of Oxygen From Water