Purine-modified platinum electrodes could cut hydrogen costs
2025.10.21
Research
High costs have long held back hydrogen production from water, with electrolyzers priced at $2,000–$2,600 per kilowatt in 2024. Now, researchers from Japan have found that modifying platinum cathodes with naturally occurring purine bases can boost the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity, the key step where water is split into hydrogen, up to four times. This approach can significantly reduce platinum requirements, bringing affordable, large-scale hydrogen production closer to reality.
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Researchers from Japan enhanced the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by modifying platinum cathodes with purine bases. The purine molecules form hydrogen-bonded cages with surrounding water, which helps remove hydroxide ions from the surface, lowering the energy barrier and increasing HER activity up to four times.