Breakthrough in Green Synthesis: Researchers Develop Sustainable Method for Producing Hydrogen Fuel

Scientists at Tribhuvan University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of green synthesis, developing a new method for producing clean and sustainable hydrogen fuel. According to the research, a 3D nanocage network of Cu-doped CeO2 electrocatalyst exhibits exceptional electrochemical performances for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), significantly reducing the overpotential and increasing the rate of hydrogen production. This research has the potential to revolutionize the field of biotechnology and sustainability, providing a scalable solution for storing intermittent energy from renewable sources.

Key Takeaways:

• Researchers at Tribhuvan University have developed a novel green synthesis approach for producing Cu-doped CeO2 nanoparticles using plant extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents.
• The 3D nanocage network of Cu-CeO2 electrocatalyst exhibits remarkable electrochemical performances for HER and OER, with a Tafel slope of 58.8 mV dec(-1) and overpotentials of 142 mV and 166 mV at current densities of 50 mA cm(-2) and 100 mA cm(-2), respectively.
• Cu-doping on the CeO2 matrix increases the rate of H2O adsorption during water-splitting reaction due to the introduction of Cu-3d orbitals near the Fermi level, enhancing charge carrier density.
• The green synthesis method offers a sustainable, low-impact alternative for producing high-performance nanomaterials.
• This research has been peer-reviewed and published in the journal Electrocatalysis.
• The study highlights the potential of Cu-doped CeO2 nanoparticles for green hydrogen production as an energy vector.

Statistics:

• The Cu-doped CeO2 nanoparticles exhibit a Tafel slope of 58.8 mV dec(-1), indicating superior catalytic activity.
• The overpotential of 142 mV at a current density of 50 mA cm(-2) is significantly lower than previous reports.
• The density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the Cu-doping on the CeO2 matrix increases the rate of H2O adsorption by 30%.
• The 3D nanocage network of Cu-CeO2 electrocatalyst exhibits enhanced electrochemical performances for HER and OER due to the reduced reaction barrier and accelerated charge transfer process.

Sources:

• Dasu Ram Paudel et al., "Bifunctional Electrocatalysis of Copper-doped Cerium Oxide Nanocage Networks Enabling Her and Oer," Electrocatalysis, 2025.
• NewsRx. "Researchers from Tribhuvan University Discuss Findings in Green Synthesis (Bifunctional Electrocatalysis of Copper-doped Cerium Oxide Nanocage Networks Enabling Her and Oer)." Biotech Week. June 11, 2025; p 847.
• Tribhuvan University, Department of Chemistry, Trichandra Multiple Campus, Kathmandu 44613, Nepal.