SUNY Polytechnic Institute Associate Professor Dr. Iulian Gherasoiu has co-authored a new study called, “Quantification of hydrogen and transition metals in ionomer-free MoNi4-MoO2 cathode catalyst layer for AEM electrolyzer,” which was published in Electrochimica Acta. The study, done in collaboration with University at Albany’s Drs. Yamini Kumaran, Daniele Cherniak, Kyoung-Yeol Kim and Haralabos Efstathiadis, could help make clean hydrogen energy cheaper and more widely available.

The research looks at how a new, low-cost catalyst material behaves inside a hydrogen electrolyzer, a device that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. Producing hydrogen this way is important for building a clean-energy future, but current systems can be expensive and wear out over time. In the study, the team created a catalyst made from nickel and molybdenum, materials far less costly than precious metals typically used today. The researchers tested how well it works and used advanced imaging and measurement tools to see what happens to the material as it operates.

Their findings show:
•    The new material performs well and can help lower the cost of hydrogen production.
•    Over time, the material slowly changes at the surface, which affects how long it lasts.
•    The team developed a new method to closely track these changes, helping scientists design more durable materials in the future.

Dr. Gherasoiu contributed to supervising the research and analyzing the results. The work was supported by several SUNY research centers, including SUNY Poly’s Center for Advanced Semiconductor Materials and Devices (CASMAD).

To read the study, click here.