Scientists discover a hidden switch inside silver nanocatalysts
Silver nanocatalysts have been found to switch where they perform their most important reactions depending on whether a solid oxide cell is making electricity or hydrogen. The discovery could enable smarter catalyst designs that boost clean power generation while making green hydrogen more energy-efficient.
Researchers have discovered that silver nanocatalysts can operate at different reaction sites within solid oxide cells, depending on whether the device is generating electricity or producing hydrogen. This finding, led by scientists from Seoul National University, KAIST, and the Korea Basic Science Institute, could improve the design of next-generation energy devices for better performance.
Solid oxide cells move oxygen ions through a solid material to either generate electricity or split water to produce hydrogen. The team created a model electrode with a controlled structure and composition to study the nanocatalysts' roles. When the cell was generating electricity, reaction rates increased as the boundary between the silver nanoparticles and the electrode grew larger.
For hydrogen production, reaction rates increased with the silver nanoparticle surface area. This means that the same nanocatalyst performs its most important chemistry in two different places, depending on whether the device is operating in electricity-generating or hydrogen-producing mode. The study, published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science, could lead to more efficient energy systems in buildings and factories, and aid the production of green hydrogen using renewable energy.
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