Engineers cut iridium use by 80% in breakthrough hydrogen catalyst

Breakthrough in Hydrogen Catalyst

Hydrogen is emerging as a clean fuel to power factories, vehicles, and cities without carbon emissions.

Producing hydrogen sustainably has faced a hurdle due to the high cost and scarcity of iridium, a rare metal.

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new catalyst that reduces iridium use by over 80% in water electrolyzers.

This breakthrough could make green hydrogen more affordable and scalable, with the catalyst maintaining top performance for over 1,500 hours.

Their findings were published in Nature Nanotechnology.

Hydrogen is a powerful clean fuel that can power factories, vehicles, and even cities without producing carbon emissions.

Author's summary: Engineers reduce iridium use by 80% in new hydrogen catalyst.

Knowridge Science Report — 2025-10-17