A significant innovation comes from Italy, promising to transform green hydrogen production. The new catalyst, called “NiGraf”, developed by a research team from the National Research Council (CNR)is setting a new standard for efficiency and durability in the electrolytic production of hydrogen from water.
The “NiGraf” is the result of a collaboration between three CNR institutes: the Institute of Crystallography of Bari, the Institute of Organometallic Compounds of Florence, and the Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials of Palermo. This catalyst stands out for its unique composition that integrates graphene oxide inside nickel nanoparticles. This structure not only enhances the efficiency of the electrolytic process but also guarantees greater stability, a crucial aspect for the industrialization of the technology.
The development process of “NiGraf” included theThe use of cutting-edge techniques to observe atomic changes during the electrolytic reaction, thanks to the use of high-intensity X-rays at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in the USA. This in-depth analysis allowed us to optimize the reaction at a molecular level, significantly improving the performance of the catalyst.
The innovation represented by “NiGraf” could have a revolutionary impact not only from a technological point of view but also from an economic and environmental point of view. Currently, around 600,000 tonnes of hydrogen are produced annually via electrolysis, a process that could become more accessible and less expensive thanks to “NiGraf”. By using electricity derived from renewable sources, the production process not only becomes ecologically sustainable but also contributes to reducing the carbon footprint, promoting the transition towards a low CO2 emission economy.
The team designed a completely innovative device that encapsulates a graphene oxide structure within – and not on the surface of – the crystalline lattice of nickel-based nanoparticles: “In this way the special planar structure of graphene interacts advantageously with the crystalline lattice of nickel-based nanoparticles, resulting in an increase in efficiency and stability of the catalyst due to the cooperative effect between the two crystalline phases“, explains Rocco Caliandro (Cnr-Ic), first author of the study with Enrico Berretti (Cnr-Iccom). The research group, led by Cinzia Giannini (Cnr-Ic), was also made up of researchers Alessandro Lavacchi (Cnr-Iccom) and Mario Pagliaro (Cnr-Ismn).
The authors of the study, financed by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) in the context of hydrogen researchhighlight the importance of this progress not only as a scientific advancement but also as a stimulus for further research and development in the field. The collaboration between the various CNR institutes demonstrates the effectiveness of a synergistic approach in scientific research, essential to address the complex challenges of energy sustainability.
“This result, made possible by the collaboration between various CNR institutes, demonstrates once again how large national projects can give Italian research the critical mass necessary to achieve great scientific progress, and not simple incremental research“, the authors conclude.