Guwahati | Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati have developed a low-cost and efficient catalyst for producing hydrogen from water, a breakthrough that could support India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and contribute to the transition towards cleaner energy.

Hydrogen is increasingly being viewed as a key component of the global shift towards sustainable energy. Unlike petroleum-based fuels, hydrogen produces water as the only byproduct when used to generate energy. It is also widely used in fuel cells and as a raw material in industries such as fertiliser manufacturing.

The research team, led by Akshai Kumar, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry at IIT-Guwahati, developed a coordination polymer-based catalyst using nickel and an anthracene-based organic molecule. Explaining the research, Kumar said the team synthesised the catalyst by linking anthracene units through nickel nodes using a simple process carried out at room temperature with the aid of ultrasonic waves.

The resulting material forms an extended network in which metal atoms are connected by organic molecules. According to the researchers, this structure provides a high density of active sites required for the hydrogen evolution reaction while facilitating efficient electron transport.

The development addresses one of the major challenges associated with green hydrogen production. Although hydrogen can be produced cleanly through water electrolysis, the process requires efficient catalysts. The most effective catalysts currently available often rely on rare and expensive noble metals, limiting their large-scale deployment.

The IIT-Guwahati team instead used nickel salt, which is relatively inexpensive and widely available. However, nickel salt by itself has limited efficiency and stability for hydrogen production. The researchers enhanced its performance by combining it with an anthracene-based organic framework.

” The results reveal a significant synergic effect in the combination of nickel and the anthracene-based framework, with each component enhancing the performance of the other,” said Kalishankar Bhattacharyya, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, who provided theoretical insights into the research.

The catalyst demonstrated stability during long-term operation, while the researchers found that nearly 88 per cent of the electrical energy supplied was effectively utilised for water splitting. The researchers said minimising energy losses is critical for developing commercially viable systems capable of producing green hydrogen at scale.

The team also conducted chemical analyses and modelling studies to understand the catalyst’s performance. The findings indicated that nickel atoms formed a three-dimensional network with the anthracene-based framework, contributing to the material’s enhanced catalytic properties.

The study has been published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A. It was co-authored by Kumar and Bhattacharyya along with research scholars Niharika Tanwar, Jumana Ishrat and Khadimul Islam, all from IIT-Guwahati. At present, an estimated 90-95 per cent of hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels. Grey and blue hydrogen are produced from natural gas, while brown and black hydrogen are derived from coal. These processes generate greenhouse gas emissions, undermining the environmental advantages associated with hydrogen as an energy source.

Water, by contrast, offers a cleaner feedstock for hydrogen production. The researchers said the development of an inexpensive, stable and efficient catalyst could therefore help address a key technological barrier to expanding green hydrogen production. The IIT-Guwahati research could contribute to efforts to make water-based hydrogen production more affordable and scalable, supporting India’s broader ambitions to build a sustainable hydrogen economy.