As the world grapples with the urgency of climate change, researchers at Ashoka University are exploring new ways to make hydrogen production more efficient and affordable. Hydrogen, often called the fuel of the future, is only truly “green” when produced without carbon emissions—a challenge given current costly and energy-intensive methods, reports The Hindu Businessline.
A team led by Assistant Professor Dr. Munmun Ghosh has been studying electrocatalytic hydrogen production, where catalysts help split water molecules (H₂O) into hydrogen and oxygen. The efficiency of this process depends heavily on the choice of catalyst.
At present, platinum is the most effective material, but it is scarce and expensive. To find alternatives, the Ashoka team experimented with complexes made of different metals—including nickel, cobalt, copper, zinc, and iron—combined with specially designed ligands.
“In simple terms, a ligand is a molecule that bonds with a metal to form a complex,” explained Dr. Ghosh. “In our case, the ligand reduces the energy needed for the reaction, making the process more efficient.”
The study revealed that the nickel-ligand combination showed the greatest potential for hydrogen generation, performing on par with some of the best reported systems. Cobalt also displayed encouraging results, particularly with its low overpotential of 200 millivolts—a measure of energy efficiency—compared to platinum’s benchmark of 30 millivolts. Without a ligand, metals alone can reach inefficient levels as high as 1 volt.
Dr. Deepak Asthana, also part of the research team, noted that the ligand proved to be the real driver of efficiency. “The metal alone could do the job, but at a much higher energy cost. The ligand works with the metal to share the load, making the process far less energy-intensive,” he said.
Beyond efficiency, ligand design also plays a key role in stability. “Without a ligand, the metal catalyst may not survive long,” Dr. Ghosh pointed out. “By carefully designing ligands, we can control whether they donate or accept electrons, depending on what’s needed for the reaction.”
The findings highlight that while nickel-ligand complexes are not yet the ultimate solution, they represent a significant step forward. “This is an early stage,” said Dr. Asthana. “But the results show that with further design and modification, nickel-ligand systems could eventually rival or even replace platinum-based catalysts.”
The research underlines how biomimetic approaches—drawing inspiration from natural processes—can open new avenues for sustainable energy solutions. As Dr. Ghosh put it: “I see what nature does and try to mimic it for scientific purposes.”
