An inexpensive catalyst engineered by researchers from Oregon State University and Pacific Northwest National A colorized high-resolution transmission electron microscope image shows the catalyst’s two phases, molybdenum phosphide in purple and molybdenum diphosphide in yellow. Source: Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryLaboratory promises to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production from wastewater electrolysis and seawater desalination. The molybdenum phosphide catalyst outperforms expensive platinum and yields hydrogen five times faster than state-of-the-art non-platinum species.

The catalyst was tested in a microbial electrolysis cell supporting both fermentation and electrolysis in a single system. Dual active sites were observed on the catalyst, with molybdenum diphosphide promoting water dissociation and molybdenum phosphide efficiently converting the released hydrogen atoms to gaseous hydrogen molecules.

The two crystal phases comprising the tunable catalyst worked in concert to provide similar results for electrolysis cells containing wastewater or seawater.