Hidden barrier in water splitting for hydrogen production found

Hidden barrier in water splitting for hydrogen production found

The findings from this research can open new avenues to optimize the reaction and lower the cost of clean hydrogen fuel.

Water splitting for hydrogen production uses more energy than expected, researchers say

Discover how water molecules 'flip' surprisingly, making water splitting for green hydrogen production very energy intensive.

Uncovering energy inefficiencies in hydrogen production

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 10, 2025 In the quest for sustainable energy, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen is a key step toward producing clean hydrogen fuel. However, this process remains less efficient than theoretical models suggest, demanding more energy input than expected. Researchers at Northwestern University have now pinpointed a molecular mechanism that may explain why. Chemists observed that just before oxy

Uncovering the hidden cost of water splitting

The process to split water into hydrogen and oxygen is inherently inefficient — requiring significantly more energy than theoretically predicted. Now, Northwestern University chemists have found a molecular-level explanation for this discrepancy. In the crucial moment before giving up oxygen atoms, the water molecules perform an unexpected trick: They flip.