Palladium Nanosheets Offer Cheaper Hydrogen Production

Researchers at the Tokyo University of Science (TUS) announced on January 27, 2025, the development of a palladium-based nanosheet catalyst, bis(diimino)palladium coordination nanosheets (PdDI), poised to revolutionize hydrogen production. Published in Chemistry - A European Journal, the study, led by Dr. Hiroaki Maeda and Professor Hiroshi Nishihara, presents a cost-effective alternative to platinum-based catalysts currently used in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) technology. HER technology involves splitting water to generate hydrogen, a process traditionally reliant on platinum electrodes. While effective, platinum's scarcity and high cost hinder widespread adoption. The TUS team's PdDI nanosheets offer a solution by maximizing catalytic activity while minimizing metal usage, potentially slashing hydrogen production costs. Dr. Maeda emphasized the durability of the PdDI nanosheets, noting their stability after 12 hours in acidic conditions, indicating suitability for real-world applications. The team envisions PdDI nanosheets as highly attractive for industrial hydrogen production, hydrogen fuel cells, and large-scale energy storage systems. Furthermore, replacing platinum with PdDI could reduce mining emissions, accelerating the transition to a sustainable hydrogen economy. The researchers are now focused on optimizing PdDI nanosheets for commercialization.