Innovative Metal-Free Catalyst Revolutionizes Hydrogen Fuel Production in India
Key Ideas
- Researchers at JNCASR, Bengaluru, developed a metal-free catalyst using a donor-acceptor COF for hydrogen production under mechanical pressure.
- The catalyst's unique features include ferrielectric ordering and sponge-like porous architecture for efficient water splitting.
- This innovation supports India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, offering a scalable, eco-friendly, and energy-efficient alternative to metal-based hydrogen technologies.
Indian researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru have achieved a significant milestone by developing a metal-free catalyst for hydrogen fuel production using mechanical energy. This breakthrough aligns with India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, showcasing a leap in sustainable hydrogen technology. The catalyst, a donor-acceptor covalent organic framework (COF), can split water molecules under mechanical pressure to yield hydrogen gas. Developed in collaboration with IISER Pune and Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland, the catalyst features a metal-free composition using organic molecules linked via imide bonds. Its ferrielectric ordering generates internal electric fields to drive the catalytic process, while its sponge-like porous architecture facilitates easy water flow and charge separation. By leveraging ambient mechanical energy like vibrations, the catalyst produces electron-hole pairs, enabling efficient water splitting. This eco-friendly innovation replaces costly and toxic metals with sustainable organic materials, contributing to energy efficiency and supporting India's clean energy goals. The scalable nature of this technology offers a cost-effective and practical solution to current metal-based hydrogen technologies, showcasing India's leadership in clean energy and promoting energy independence.
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Production
Clean Energy
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Innovation
Sustainability
Energy Efficiency
Research
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