PNNL

Abstract

Addressing the worldwide problems of escalating energy demand and increasing emissions of CO2 requires an increase in utilization of carbon-neutral, sustainable energy sources. Electrocatalysts are needed for conversion between chemical energy (bonds such as the H-H bond of hydrogen) and electricity in future systems for storage and use of energy. Hydrogen is an attractive energy carrier, but a major barrier to more widespread use of hydrogen is the need for efficient, inexpensive catalysts. Electricity is produced from oxidation of hydrogen in low-temperature fuel cells, but the best catalyst is platinum, a precious metal of low abundance.1 Here we show that a synthetic iron complex is a catalyst for the oxidation of hydrogen. A burgeoning effort by chemists studying many areas of catalysis has focused on "Cheap Metals for Noble Tasks."2 Iron is particularly attractive because of its very high earth-abundance along with its low cost and toxicity, leading Bolm to suggest the advent of a "new iron age."3 Our results demonstrate that rationally designed catalysts based on abundant, inexpensive metals offer substantial promise as alternatives to precious metal catalysts. We thank the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences, for support of this research. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy.