香港大学の研究チームは、海水電気分解における腐食に耐性を持つ新しいステンレス鋼合金を開発した。この素材は、水素製造システムにおいて高価なチタン部品に取って代わる可能性がある。
「SS-H2」と名付けられたこの合金は、機械工学科のミンシン・ファン（Mingxin Huang）教授率いるチームによって開発された。この素材は、二段階の不動態化戦略を採用しており、酸化クロム層を形成した後にマンガンベースの保護シールドを形成することで、最大1700 mVの電位に耐えることができる。このアプローチにより、塩化物イオンが豊富な環境での水酸化中に1000 mV付近で劣化してしまうという従来のステンレス鋼の限界を克服した。
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Researchers at ETH Zurich have engineered a catalyst using isolated indium atoms on hafnium oxide to convert CO2 and hydrogen into methanol more efficiently than previous methods. This single-atom design maximizes metal use and enables clearer study of reaction mechanisms. The breakthrough could support sustainable chemical production if powered by renewables.
Researchers at King's College London have created a novel aluminum compound that mimics the reactivity of rare metals. The discovery, featuring a unique triangular structure, could enable cheaper and greener chemical processes. Led by Dr. Clare Bakewell, the team published their findings in Nature Communications.
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Werner Ponikwar, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Nucera, calls in a guest commentary for more commitment to electrolysis technologies. Diversified energy imports are insufficient to reduce dependency. Electrolysis links renewable electricity to industrial value creation and produces hydrogen as a storable energy carrier.
Commercialisation of hydrogen fuel cell trucks in China has revived optimism in the platinum industry. Northam Platinum CEO Paul Dunne highlighted a Chinese company's fleet of over 20,000 trucks, each using 100 grams of platinum. The development was discussed at a recent PGM conference in Johannesburg.
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Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed RidgeAlloy, a new aluminum alloy that transforms contaminated scrap from car bodies into high-performance material for vehicle parts. This innovation addresses recycling challenges posed by impurities, potentially reducing energy use by up to 95 percent compared to primary aluminum production. The breakthrough could enable the reuse of up to 350,000 tons of aluminum scrap annually in North America by the early 2030s.
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology believe they have spotted signs of a triplet superconductor in the niobium-rhenium alloy NbRe. This material could transmit both electricity and electron spin without resistance, potentially advancing quantum computing. The finding, if confirmed, might stabilize quantum devices and reduce their energy consumption.
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Japanese scientists have created a new spin-flip material that could increase solar panel efficiency by up to 130 percent. The technology also holds potential for OLED displays and lighting systems. Details emerged in recent reports on advancements in photovoltaic materials.