Nigerian Scientist Unveils Cost-Effective Catalyst for Sustainable Green Hydrogen Production

Dr. Saheed Raheem, a scientist from Nigeria, has achieved a major advancement that may significantly reduce the expenses associated with producing green hydrogen, thus supporting international initiatives aimed at shifting towards renewable energy sources.

Raheem, who specializes in materials chemistry with a focus on electrocatalysis, has created a highly efficient composite catalyst from molybdenum nitride (Mo₃N₂) and vanadium oxide (VO₂). This development offers an affordable substitute for costly platinum-based catalysts commonly employed in hydrogen generation.

Green hydrogen holds significant promise for substituting fossil fuels; however, its production has proven costly largely due to the dependence on rare metals.

"Our objective is to overcome this hurdle by developing affordable and efficient substitutes utilizing widely available resources," Raheem stated in an interview with THE NATION.

He mentioned that platinum continues to be the leading catalyst for facilitating the hydrogen evolution reaction in water electrolysis systems. Nevertheless, its significant expense and limited availability pose substantial barriers to broader implementation.

Although less expensive alternatives like Mo₃N₂ have demonstrated promise, he highlighted that these materials frequently struggle under severe conditions because of their inadequate stability and reduced catalytic effectiveness.

To overcome these limitations, Raheem and his team engineered a Mo₃N₂ VO₂ composite with a synergistic structure that improves electron transfer and increases the number of active catalytic sites.

The outcome is a sturdy catalyst that equals and sometimes outperforms the effectiveness of other non-precious options, particularly in acidic environments.

Our testing revealed that this novel catalyst performs remarkably well even under stringent conditions," he pointed out. "This might be pivotal for rendering green hydrogen economically feasible.

Dr. Raheem looked forward to increasing the production of the catalyst and modifying it for effective operation over a broader pH spectrum, a feature that could make it more comparable to the flexibility of platinum.

This study goes beyond mere scientific interest; it focuses on generating practical solutions with significant real-world effects. These solutions aim to decrease emissions, generate employment opportunities in renewable energy sectors, and enable developing nations to rely less on foreign fuels.

He mentioned that this achievement syncs up with global initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing a robust, low-carbon energy sector for the future.

“With the right support, Africa Can play a key role in the worldwide transition to clean energy. Green hydrogen is not just an elusive vision. It is attainable, and this begins with reconsidering the materials we utilize for its production."

Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).

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