Opening the path to high-efficiency hydrogen production without expensive precious metals!

 A research team led by Dr. Sung Mook Choi of the Energy & Environment Materials Research Division at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), in collaboration with a team headed by Professor Seung-Hwa Lee at Changwon National University, has successfully designed and developed a proprietary non-precious metal oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst featuring a layered structure optimized for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) environments. This study is particularly significant in that it proposes a novel catalyst design strategy capable of simultaneously achieving high efficiency and durability while reducing reliance on expensive precious metal catalysts.

 Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) operates under alkaline conditions, offering a structural advantage in that relatively low-cost non-precious metal catalysts can be employed in place of expensive precious metals. For this reason, AEMWE has attracted considerable attention as a cost-effective and inherently safe hydrogen production technology.

 However, the lack of non-precious metal oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts capable of long-term stable operation in alkaline environments has prevented the complete elimination of reliance on precious metal catalysts in practical systems. In particular, conventional transition metal–based catalysts have faced challenges in achieving durability, as prolonged operation often leads to structural degradation, metal dissolution, and a decline in catalytic activity.

 To address these challenges, the research team precisely engineered a cobalt (Co) and iron (Fe)-based oxyhydroxide (CoFeOOH) catalyst with a layered structure and introduced a strategy capable of simultaneously controlling the electronic structure of the catalytically active surface and the reaction pathways. Through this approach, the team demonstrated that a structurally stable catalytic active layer can be formed while facilitating efficient charge transfer during the oxygen evolution reaction process.

 The research team introduced iron (Fe) into the layered oxyhydroxide (CoFeOOH) structure to effectively modulate the electronic state of the cobalt (Co) centers and to lower the energy barrier associated with the adsorption–desorption steps of reaction intermediates, which are critical to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). As a result, the catalyst achieved high current densities even at low overpotentials and maintained stable performance without structural degradation under prolonged operating conditions.

 Meanwhile, to suppress catalyst corrosion and structural degradation that may occur during the iron (Fe) doping process, the research team also developed a proprietary technique involving controlled chemical oxidation of the catalyst surface. Through this approach, they successfully established a stable catalyst surface structure that is highly favorable for the oxygen evolution reaction under alkaline conditions.

 The newly developed catalyst was directly applied to a unit cell of anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE), enabling validation of both performance and durability under practical electrolysis system conditions beyond laboratory-scale half-cell evaluations. This achievement demonstrates that non-precious metal oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts can be practically implemented in AEMWE systems, thereby advancing the prospects for commercialization. Once commercialized, this technology is expected to enable the development of cost-effective, high-efficiency AEMWE systems with minimized reliance on precious metals. It is also anticipated to contribute to the expansion of clean hydrogen production and to strengthening technological self-reliance in key water electrolysis catalyst materials.

 Dr. Sung Mook Choi, Principal Researcher at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) and the lead investigator of the study, stated, “This research represents a case in which the limitations of non-precious metal–based catalysts were overcome through structural design.” He added, “We will continue our efforts to accelerate the commercialization of green hydrogen production technologies based on anion exchange membrane water electrolysis and contribute to the realization of a hydrogen-based society.”

 This research was supported by the National Research Laboratory for Hydrogen (H2 NEXT ROUND) program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the institutional research program of the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), the NRF Basic Research Program, and the Excellent Paper Support Program of Changwon National University. The research findings were published online on December 1, 2025, in the internationally renowned journal ACS Nano (Impact Factor: 16.1).

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About Korea Institute of Materials Science(KIMS)

KIMS is a non-profit government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea. As the only institute specializing in comprehensive materials technologies in Korea, KIMS has contributed to Korean industry by carrying out a wide range of activities related to materials science including R&D, inspection, testing&evaluation, and technology support.