The Hydrogen Stream: Japanese researchers develop low-temperature hydrogen battery

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Institute of Science Tokyo researchers proposed a battery with magnesium hydride (MgH2) as the anode and hydrogen (H2) gas as the cathode. Meanwhile, researchers at Chung-Ang University proposed chloride-resistant ruthenium (Ru)-based nanocatalysts for direct electrolysis and hydrogen production from seawater.</span></p><p><strong><span>Japanese researchers</span></strong><span> developed a solid hydrogen battery that operates at 90 °C, achieving reversible hydrogen gas absorption and release. The battery, with magnesium hydride (MgH2) as the anode and hydrogen (H2) gas as the cathode, uses a solid electrolyte, Ba0.5Ca0.35Na0.15H1.85, which can transport hydrogen ions. &#8220;This material has an anti-α-AgI-type crystal structure, well known for its superionic conductivity. In this structure, barium, calcium, and sodium occupy body-centered positions, while H– move through face-sharing tetrahedral and octahedral sites, allowing them to migrate freely,&#8221; said the Institute of Science Tokyo. During charging, MgH2 releases H–, which migrate through the Ba0.5Ca0.35Na0.15H1.85 electrolyte to the H2 electrode, </span><span>where they are</span><span> oxidized to release H2 gas. </span><span>During discharging, the reverse occurs: H2 gas at the cathode is reduced to H–, which </span><span>move</span><span> through the electrolyte to the anode and </span><span>react</span><span> with Mg to form MgH2.</span> <span>According to the researchers, the battery overcomes </span><span>the</span><span> high-temperature and low-capacity limits </span><span>of earlier methods</span><span>.</span><span> The paper &#8220;</span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw1996" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span>High-capacity, reversible hydrogen storage using H</span><span>–-</span><span>conducting solid electrolytes</span></a><span>&#8221; was published </span><span>on</span> <em><span>Science</span></em><span>.</span></p>
<p><span>Researchers at </span><strong><span>Chung-Ang University</span></strong><span> proposed chloride-resistant ruthenium (Ru)-based nanocatalysts for direct electrolysis and hydrogen production from seawater. &#8220;The crystalline/amorphous Ru heterostructure exhibits 37× higher activity than commercial Pt catalysts in alkaline water electrolysis, enabling cost-effective hydrogen generation,&#8221; </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://neweng.cau.ac.kr/cms/FR_CON/BoardView.do?MENU_ID=920&amp;CONTENTS_NO=&amp;SITE_NO=3&amp;BOARD_SEQ=14&amp;BOARD_CATEGORY_NO=&amp;BBS_SEQ=139" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span>said</span></a><span> the South Korean researchers. The team led by Haeseong Jang employed a g-C3N4-mediated pyrolysis strategy to synthesize nitrogen-doped carbon-supported Ru nanoclusters with a crystalline–amorphous heterostructure (a/c-Ru@NC). g-C3N4 </span><span>serves as both</span><span> a nitrogen source and a scaffold that anchors Ru³⁺ ions through N-coordination sites. &#8220;During pyrolysis, reductive gases released from g-C3N4 reduce Ru³⁺ in situ to metallic Ru nanoparticles, while Ru–N bonding disrupts atomic order in the core, forming an amorphous Ru phase.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><strong><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/?s=Elcogen" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span>Elcogen</span></a></strong><span> officially opened its solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) factory on the outskirts of Tallinn, Estonia. The 14,000 m² facility increases Elcogen's </span><span>available</span><span> production capacity from 10 MW to 360 MW. &#8220;Elcogen's components – cells, stacks and modules &#8211; are integrated into third-party systems for a wide range of applications including distributed energy, off-grid and stationary power, industrial backup, green hydrogen production, and Power-to-X solutions,&#8221; </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://elcogen.com/elcogen-launches-new-high-volume-solid-oxide-fuel-cell-factory-in-europe-to-meet-global-demand-for-clean-energy-solutions/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span>said</span></a><span> the Estonian company. </span></p>
<p><span>The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (</span><strong><span>EGAT</span></strong><span>) and </span><strong><span>Chulalongkorn </span></strong><span>University signed a research fund agreement to research hydrogen production from renewable energy. &#8220;The collaboration aims to promote development focused on the environment, society, and governance guided by international standards, while also translating the principles into practical applications,&#8221; </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.egat.co.th/home/en/20250917e/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span>said</span></a><span> the Thai authority.</span></p>
<p><strong><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/?s=August+Weckermann" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span>August Weckermann</span></a></strong><span> commissioned a new hydrogen plant at its Eisenbach site, Germany, based on a 300 kW electrolysis plant, hydrogen storage with a total capacity of 1.4 tonnes, and a fuel cell with an electrical output of up to 200 kW. The plant is part of a system </span><span>also</span><span> based on photovoltaics, and a redox flow battery with a storage capacity of 3,000 kWh. &#8220;The goal is to achieve a degree of self-sufficiency of up to 85 percent&#8221;, said Bernard Gruppe, the German company commissioned with the process engineering planning, in an emailed press release.</span></p>