Ewha Womans University Finds Cheaper Catalyst Solution for Hydrogen Energy

Ewha Womans University has discovered a method to produce hydrogen energy at a lower cost.

Photo of the research team from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Ewha Womans University. From the left: Professor Suyeon Jo, Professor Sanghyun Lee, PhD candidate Seungwon Jung, and master's graduate Junghyo Kim. Ewha Womans University

On June 21, Ewha Womans University announced that a research team led by Professors Suyeon Jo and Sangheon Lee from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering has identified the hydrogen evolution reaction mechanism of the topological semimetal "nickel telluride (NiTe₂)" and demonstrated its potential as a highly efficient catalyst for hydrogen production.

In the era of carbon neutrality, hydrogen energy is gaining attention as a next-generation technology. However, its economic viability is limited because it relies on expensive precious metals such as platinum as catalysts. In fact, according to the Korea Exchange, the price of platinum per gram was approximately 52,700 won as of June 20, a significant increase from about 44,000 won last year. As a result, alternative materials such as topological precious metals that can replace platinum are emerging as viable options.

Through experiments, the research team found that among topological precious metals, nickel telluride facilitates rapid charge transfer and can act as a catalyst when combined with hydrogen. This discovery is expected to provide a new direction for the design of hydrogen energy catalysts.

The research paper was published online on June 16 in the Chemical Engineering Journal, the most prestigious international journal in the field of chemical engineering. The study was supported by the Excellent Researcher Exchange Support Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Ewha Womans University Healthcare Professional Training Education and Research Group.

Professors Jo and Lee stated, "We expect that this research will bring significant innovation to the development of high-performance hydrogen energy."