Common mineral ‘green rust’ could make hydrogen cars, ships a reality

Researchers at Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) have developed a cost-effective, high-performance catalyst for hydrogen storage by modifying a common mineral called green rust, an iron hydroxide. This catalyst enables the release of hydrogen from sodium borohydride (NaBH4) through hydrolysis at room temperature without relying on expensive precious metals like platinum, addressing a major challenge in hydrogen fuel technology. The modification involves treating green rust particles with copper chloride, creating nanoscale copper oxide clusters that serve as highly active sites for hydrogen production. The catalyst also harnesses solar energy, with the green rust structure absorbing sunlight and transferring energy via copper clusters to enhance the hydrolysis reaction’s efficiency and hydrogen generation rate. Performance tests showed that this catalyst achieves hydrogen production rates comparable to or exceeding those of traditional precious metal catalysts, while maintaining durability over repeated use. Its room-temperature operation, simple production, and compatibility with existing hydrogen systems position it as a promising solution to advance clean hydrogen energy, particularly when combined with