New Catalyst Cuts Platinum Use by 75% for Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Researchers at the IMDEA Materials Institute have announced a breakthrough that could lower the cost of hydrogen fuel cells by reducing the amount of platinum required for their catalysts. In a study published in *Electrochimica Acta*, the team demonstrated that a new catalyst delivers the same performance as conventional platinum-based systems while using 75 % less of the expensive metal. The key to this improvement lies in the application of controlled mechanical compression during catalyst synthesis, which alters the atomic‑scale structure and enhances its energy‑conversion efficiency.

The compression technique modifies the catalyst’s surface properties, allowing it to maintain high catalytic activity for hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions—critical processes in fuel cell operation. By achieving comparable energy efficiency with significantly less platinum, the new catalyst addresses one of the primary economic barriers to the widespread deployment of hydrogen fuel cells. The researchers suggest that this approach could be integrated into existing manufacturing processes, potentially accelerating the transition to cleaner, hydrogen‑based power systems.

If adopted commercially, the reduced platinum requirement could lower production costs and improve the scalability of hydrogen fuel cells. The IMDEA team plans to further optimize the compression parameters and explore the catalyst’s performance in full fuel cell assemblies, aiming to validate its commercial viability in real‑world applications.