Nickel Hydroxide Gets a Boost from Iridium Atoms

Scientists have found a way to make water splitting more efficient.

They used a simple method to add tiny bits of iridium to nickel hydroxide. This mix works well for both sides of water splitting: making oxygen and making hydrogen.

How It Works

The iridium changes the nickel hydroxide. It makes the material better at moving electricity. This happens because the iridium creates more spots for oxygen to stick. These spots help the iridium and nickel work together better.

The team used computer models to see how this mix works. They found that:

• The iridium helps the nickel make oxygen.
• The nickel helps the iridium make hydrogen.

This teamwork makes the whole process faster and more stable.

Test Results

In tests, this mix:

• Needed very little extra energy to work.
• Could split water at high speeds for a long time.

This could be a big step forward for making clean hydrogen fuel.

Challenges Ahead

But there are still challenges:

• Making this mix in large amounts is not easy.
• Iridium is rare and expensive.
• Scientists need to find cheaper and easier ways to make these kinds of materials.