Hydrogen-Producing Catalysts
A New Catalyst Brings Green Hydrogen Closer to Cost Parity
Georgia Wray Norsten — April 28, 2025
Researchers at Tohoku University in Japan have developed a cobalt-phosphide catalyst that dramatically lowers the cost of producing green hydrogen. The catalyst rivals platinum’s performance in splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen but at a fraction of the cost.
In tests, the catalyst maintained stability over 300 hours of continuous operation. Crucially, the projected hydrogen production cost could reach $2.17 per kilogram -- nearly achieving the U.S. Department of Energy’s $2.00/kg goal for cost-competitive green hydrogen. This advance addresses one of the most significant barriers to scaling hydrogen fuel production as a zero-carbon energy source.
Lowering green hydrogen costs could accelerate adoption across industries like steelmaking, trucking, and chemical manufacturing. Companies investing in electrolyzers and hydrogen infrastructure stand to gain from early access to cheaper, non-precious catalysts.
