How Can We Encourage More Widespread Use of Hydrogen Fuel Cells?

One very promising way of producing energy in an environmentally friendly manner is via hydrogen fuel cells. In this video, ALBA GARZÓN MANJÓN explains that a fundamental barrier to the widespread adoption of this technology is the prohibitive cost of the noble metals that act as catalysts in the fuel cell. Garzón Manjón’s research seeks to identify alternatives, centering her search on high entropy alloy materials. Highlighting the importance of the size, composition and stability of any material used, the research shows that a body centeredcubic structure which is high in chromium and cobalt and low in manganese is most suitable. The new catalyst is also shown to use less energy to initiate the reaction than noble alloys.