Scientists at Yale University and the University of Missouri have created a new catalyst using abundant manganese to efficiently transform carbon dioxide into formate, a potential hydrogen carrier for fuel cells. This low-cost alternative outperforms many expensive precious-metal catalysts in longevity and effectiveness. The breakthrough, published in the journal Chem, aims to support cleaner energy production by utilizing greenhouse gases.
A team of researchers has introduced a redesigned manganese-based catalyst that converts carbon dioxide into formate, offering a sustainable path to hydrogen storage for fuel cells. Manganese, being widely available and inexpensive, serves as an attractive substitute for scarce precious metals typically used in such reactions.
The study, led by Yale postdoctoral researcher Justin Wedal and University of Missouri graduate research assistant Kyler Virtue, with senior authors Nilay Hazari from Yale and Wesley Bernskoetter from the University of Missouri, was published in Chem. Additional contributors include Yale researchers Brandon Mercado and Nicole Piekut. Funding came from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity from hydrogen's chemical energy, but challenges in production and storage have hindered widespread use. Formate, derived from formic acid—which is already produced industrially for uses like preservation and leather tanning—could address this by serving as a hydrogen source. Currently, formate production depends on fossil fuels, limiting its environmental benefits. The new approach directly uses atmospheric carbon dioxide, potentially reducing greenhouse emissions while yielding a valuable product.
The main hurdle in CO2-to-formate conversion has been catalyst durability. Precious-metal catalysts are effective but costly and sometimes toxic, while cheaper metals degrade quickly. The team's innovation involved modifying the catalyst's ligand structure by adding an extra donor atom, which stabilizes the manganese complex and extends its operational life.
"Carbon dioxide utilization is a priority right now, as we look for renewable chemical feedstocks to replace feedstocks derived from fossil fuel," said Hazari, Yale's John Randolph Huffman Professor of Chemistry and chair of the chemistry department. Wedal added, "I'm excited to see the ligand design pay off in such a meaningful way."
This pincer-ligated manganese complex with hemilabile ligands improves productivity and stability for CO2 hydrogenation, as detailed in the journal reference: Chem, 2026; 102833, DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2025.102833. The researchers suggest the design principles could enhance other catalytic processes, broadening applications in clean chemistry.