Research
A catalyst that protects itself while producing hydrogen
Phys.org ·
The Brief
- Cobalt phosphide (CoP) is presented as a promising alternative to platinum for producing hydrogen from water.
- Scientists had struggled to explain why CoP performs so well.
- Computer models had suggested CoP should become unstable under the conditions used to produce hydrogen.
Why it matters
Explaining why CoP stays stable under hydrogen-production conditions could guide the design of cheaper, platinum-free catalysts for water splitting.
Who’s affected
- chemists and materials scientists working on electrocatalysts
- researchers and engineers developing hydrogen production technologies
- #catalysis
- #hydrogen production
- #cobalt phosphide
- #electrocatalysis
- #materials science
Cobalt phosphide (CoP) is a promising alternative to platinum for producing hydrogen from water. However, scientists have struggled to explain why it performs so well. Computer models have suggested that CoP should become unstable under the conditions used to produce hydrogen…