Summary

• Washington University researchers reported platinum-free phosphide catalysts for anion-exchange membrane water electrolysis that ran for more than 1,000 hours.
• The catalyst work centers on replacing platinum-group metals with non-precious materials while maintaining competitive performance and durability.
• The University of Hong Kong developed SS-H2 stainless steel that resists chloride corrosion in harsh electrolyzer environments and could sharply reduce structural material costs.
• A parallel photocatalysis study from Chalmers shows a platinum-free solar hydrogen route using conductive polymer nanoparticles, though it still relies on a sacrificial additive.
• Across the material, scale-up remains a recurring issue, including coating uniformity, water management, impurity handling, and industrial integration.
• The dominant pattern is a materials-first effort to lower capital costs and reduce supply-chain dependence for green hydrogen systems.