Hydrogen Beyond Water.
Selective H2 Production in the Presence of Biomass-Derived Molecules
Researchers from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, in collaboration with University of Castilla-La Mancha and IRCELYON-CNRS, have developed a noble-metal-free cathode material based on MoS₂ nanosheets supported on graphene nanoplatelets for biomass-assisted hydrogen production. The work, carried out within the European ELOBIO project, demonstrates that microstructure-engineered MoS2@GNP catalysts can efficiently produce hydrogen in mild alkaline media while maintaining high selectivity in the presence of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a key biomass-derived platform molecule.
The study shows that the graphene scaffold improves electrical conductivity and catalyst dispersion, while the ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets maximize the exposure of active catalytic edge sites. As a result, the catalyst achieves stable hydrogen evolution and preserves high HER selectivity up to 30 mM HMF, making it particularly suitable for membrane-free biomass-assisted electrolysis systems. Beyond this concentration, competitive HMF reduction and degradation reactions become significant, reducing hydrogen production efficiency. These findings provide an important step toward the development of sustainable electrolysis technologies that can simultaneously produce green hydrogen and valorize renewable biomass resources.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6c01036
From Vineyards to Green Hydrogen
This research demonstrates a sustainable pathway for green hydrogen production by valorising real wine-industry biomass waste. Using low-cost, metal-free carbon anodes (Vulcan XC-72R), researchers have successfully transformed the final grape skin residues, a byproduct currently lacking industrial use, into a feedstock for energy-efficient electrolysis.
By targeting the lignin and hemicellulose fractions of the waste, the process enables cathodic hydrogen evolution at lower cell potentials than conventional water electrolysis. This innovative approach not only improves the energy efficiency of hydrogen generation but also provides a “circular economy” solution for the wine sector’s residual streams.
This work, a collaboration between the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and Alvinesa Natural Ingredients, is a key contribution to the EU-ELOBIO project, driving the transition toward a decarbonised and sustainable energy future.