Surface chemistry discovery points way to cheaper water splitting

Good news! Will hydrogen power become a  serious source of energy in the near future? Apparently, the researchers involved used a clever experimental setup.

"... It has now been discovered that in electrocatalysed water splitting the breaking and forming of bonds at the catalyst’s surface is what actually controls the reaction, an unexpected finding that could accelerate the development of renewable hydrogen generation. ... However, if surface chemistry regulates the limiting step, overpotential could be drastically reduced. ..."

Surface chemistry discovery points way to cheaper water splitting | Research | Chemistry World New work with an iridium oxide electrocatalyst has shown that electric potential does not control the rate limiting step of the reaction – a finding that could mean big energy savings when splitting water to produce hydrogen