Researchers cut platinum use 75% in hydrogen fuel cells

Researchers say they have found a way to slash the cost of hydrogen fuel cells by reducing the amount of platinum they need. A team at the IMDEA Materials Institute in Spain developed a new catalyst that cuts platinum use by 75% while keeping the same energy output. The breakthrough, published in Electrochimica Acta, could make fuel cells cheaper and speed up their use in cars, trucks and power plants.

Platinum is essential in fuel cells because it speeds up the chemical reactions that produce electricity. But it is rare and expensive, making up a big chunk of a fuel cell’s cost. The IMDEA team says their compressed catalyst performs just as well as pure platinum but with far less of the metal. They achieved this by applying precise mechanical pressure to reshape the catalyst at the atomic level.

Tests show the new catalyst delivers the same energy efficiency as traditional platinum-based ones. The researchers say the method could be scaled up for mass production. If it works in real-world fuel cells, it could lower prices enough to make hydrogen power more competitive with gasoline and diesel.

The discovery comes as governments push to cut carbon emissions and boost clean energy. Cheaper fuel cells could help trucks and buses switch from diesel, reducing pollution in cities. The next step is to test the catalyst in working fuel cells over longer periods. If it holds up, the technology could help bring hydrogen energy into the mainstream faster.