In a major stride toward eco-friendly energy solutions, a team of Indian scientists has created a novel, metal-free catalyst capable of producing hydrogen (H₂) fuel by utilizing mechanical energy. This advancement represents a significant leap in green hydrogen production and opens the door for clean, scalable alternatives to fossil fuels.
The cutting-edge research was spearheaded by Professor Tapas K. Maji from the Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru. The innovation lies in a specially engineered donor-acceptor-based covalent organic framework (COF) that serves as an efficient piezocatalyst for water splitting.
“This breakthrough challenges the traditional reliance on heavy or transition metal-based catalysts, offering a new direction in the development of scalable, sustainable hydrogen production systems,” said Prof. Maji.
What distinguishes this innovation is that it completely avoids the use of metal-based materials. Instead, the catalyst uses tris(4-aminophenyl)amine (TAPA) as the donor and pyromellitic dianhydride (PDA) as the acceptor, bonded through imide linkages. This combination produces a rare ferrielectric (FiE) ordering within the COF structure.
The catalyst’s porous, sponge-like framework promotes easy water diffusion and maximizes access to charge carriers. The FiE ordering leads to the generation of intense localized electric fields on pore surfaces, which in turn allows for high-density charge accumulation, significantly boosting hydrogen production rates.
Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare, also from JNCASR, provided theoretical validation, showing that the COF’s electronic properties include coupled energy bands and dipolar ordering, inducing lattice instability. When subjected to mechanical pressure, the material produces electron-hole pairs, making the water-splitting reaction both efficient and sustainable.
The study, featured in Advanced Functional Materials, is the result of a cross-institutional collaboration. In addition to Prof. Maji and Prof. Waghmare, contributors include Ms. Adrija Ghosh, Ms. Surabhi Menon, Dr. Sandip Biswas, and Dr. Anupam Dey from JNCASR.
Additional support came from Dr. Supriya Sahoo and Prof. Ramamoorthy Boomishankar of IISER Pune, and Prof. Jan K. Zaręba of Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland.
This invention provides an effective, eco-conscious alternative to costly and environmentally detrimental metal-based catalysts. More importantly, it introduces a method of harvesting ambient mechanical energy—like vibrations or pressure—for generating clean hydrogen fuel.
The development complements the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to scale up hydrogen production and establish India as a global hub in the clean hydrogen ecosystem.
As the world accelerates its shift toward renewable energy sources, this metal-free piezocatalyst offers a path-breaking solution to produce clean hydrogen fuel efficiently. It addresses both environmental concerns and economic barriers, potentially transforming the hydrogen economy at both national and global scales.
The development of a metal-free, piezocatalytic hydrogen fuel catalyst by Indian scientists marks a significant breakthrough in the quest for clean and sustainable energy.
By replacing traditional metal-based systems with an organic covalent organic framework (COF), this innovation not only reduces costs and environmental impact but also introduces an effective method to utilize mechanical energy for hydrogen production.
The research, led by Prof. Tapas K. Maji and supported by a diverse team across premier Indian and international institutions, aligns seamlessly with the objectives of India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.
It positions India at the forefront of green hydrogen technology and demonstrates the potential of indigenous innovation in addressing global energy challenges.
With its ability to harness ambient energy and produce hydrogen efficiently, this technology could serve as a blueprint for next-generation clean energy systems, potentially transforming both industrial applications and the broader renewable energy landscape worldwide.