Water splitting is a fundamental chemical reaction in which water (H₂O) is broken down into its components, hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂), through the simultaneous hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER). One of the most promising ways for producing these reactions is the electrolysis of water, where electricity, ideally from renewable sources, is used to drive this reaction.
The electrolysis of water is currently a very energy-intensive process, which relies on rare-earth metals such as platinum (Pt), iridium (Ir) and ruthenium (Ru) catalysts to lower this energy barrier. These current leading electrocatalysts are costly, unsustainable and sensitive to impurities in the water source, limiting their scalability for widespread, sustainable hydrogen production.
The Schmitt group addresses these challenges by developing robust, earth-abundant alternatives to noble-metal catalysts. Their research focuses on advanced supramolecular materials, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and coordination cages, as next-generation electrocatalysts for both key half-reactions of water splitting:
• Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER): the production of hydrogen gas.
• Oxygen evolution reaction (OER): the formation of oxygen gas.
These materials offer a unique platform for tailoring catalytic activity at the molecular level while maintaining structural stability under demanding electrochemical conditions.
Hydrogen is widely regarded as a cornerstone of future green energy systems, due to it having the highest gravimetric energy density of any fuel and importantly produces water as its sole reaction product when used. This stands in stark contrast to current dominant energy sources, such as fossil fuels, which release harmful by-products including carbon dioxide and other pollutants. The majority of hydrogen today is produced via energy-intensive and carbon-emitting processes, and its storage and transport remain challenging. Developing sustainable, efficient methods for hydrogen production is therefore a critical scientific and technological goal.
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