Scientists have demonstrated an adapted electrolysis approach that can roughly double hydrogen production from water by oxidizing an organic molecule at the anode instead of generating oxygen. Published Dec. 1 in the Chemical Engineering Journal, the study reports that adding hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and using a chromium-stabilized copper catalyst lets the cell run at about 0.4 volts — roughly 1 volt lower than conventional electrolysis — reducing energy consumption by as much as 40%.
How the method works
The researchers modified a standard electrolyzer with two compartments filled with potassium hydroxide (KOH) solutions separated by a thin membrane. Electrodes were placed in each compartment and connected to a DC power source. Instead of performing the usual oxygen-evolution reaction at the anode, the team added HMF (an aldehyde derived from biomass) to the anode compartment along with a specially engineered copper-based catalyst that includes chromium atoms at the surface.
When current flows, electrons removed at the anode oxidize the aldehyde groups on HMF molecules, producing an oxidized product called HMFCA and generating hydrogen from that oxidation pathway. At the same time, the cathode produces hydrogen in the usual way. Taken together, the two hydrogen sources roughly double the cell’s hydrogen output per cycle compared with standard water electrolysis.
Performance and advantages
The adapted reactions proceeded at roughly 0.4 V, about 1 V lower than typical water electrolysis voltages, which the authors say translates into energy savings of up to ~40%. The HMF oxidation also creates HMFCA, a compound that may be useful as a feedstock for bioplastics and other chemicals, potentially improving the overall economics of the process.
Practical considerations and challenges
Hamed Heidarpour, a doctoral student at McGill University and a co-author, notes that this strategy is not wholly new but that their improved catalyst boosts overall hydrogen production rates. HMF can be made from nonfood plant biomass (for example, paper residues), which is an advantage, but HMF remains relatively costly today. The team also emphasizes that catalyst durability must be improved so the system can run reliably for thousands of hours under industrial conditions.
Independent perspective: Mark Symes, a professor of electrochemistry at the University of Glasgow (not involved in the study), said this approach could be attractive where low-value organic substrates are abundant, because it produces two valuable outputs — hydrogen and more valuable oxidized organics — while lowering energy use.
Overall, the study points to a promising route for more efficient, scalable hydrogen production, but significant work remains to reduce reagent costs, extend catalyst lifetime, and scale the process for industrial deployment.
