Fuel cells are considered as a promising eco-friendly replacement for traditional internal combustion engines (ICE), since they emit only water. Among their advantages are zero harmful emissions, fast refueling and a large power reserve. However, the widespread adoption of such technology is hampered by high costs, as well as difficulties in the safe production and storage of hydrogen. To solve these problems, effective catalysts are needed that increase the efficiency of fuel cells.

"Our project is primarily aimed at increasing the activity, stability and versatility of catalysts, and possibly reducing the cost by using several different metals — this is a pleasant effect for the consumer. And the main task of the work is to obtain nanoparticles from several metals with an alloy structure. The main feature of the approach is the number of such components, since additional effects occur when using 5 or more metals, which determined the special name of such alloys – "high-entropy" (HES)," said Sergey Belenov, head of the study, a leading researcher at the SFedU Scientific and Educational Center for Chemistry and Physics of Functional and Nanostructured Inorganic Materials.

The nanoparticles being developed consist of five or more metals, including platinum group metals. Due to the fact that expensive platinum can be "diluted", the development may become more affordable in production, but still the main feature, as the scientist notes, is increased stability and activity, which is critically important for catalysts operating in aggressive environments.

The main practical goal of the project is to reduce the content of expensive metals, such as platinum, in key components for hydrogen energy. This could make the production of fuel cells for transportation, unmanned aerial vehicles, or stationary electricity generators more affordable.

According to the scientist, in the next 4-5 years, the technology of catalyst production can already be patented. It will make it possible to produce the first commercial batches and obtain confirmation that these catalysts work effectively, for example, in fuel cells for drones.

Today, the staff of the SFedU Faculty of Chemistry is actively working on the development of hydrogen energy technologies, implementing projects with the support of the Russian Science Foundation and carrying out interdisciplinary research aimed at solving strategic scientific and technological tasks of the Priority 2030 program (national project "Youth and Children"), including the creation of new functional materials and catalysts for low-carbon energy of the future.

Southern Federal University, being a participant of the strategic academic leadership program "Priority 2030" (national project "Youth and Children"), concentrates efforts on solving the tasks of scientific and technological development of the country. As part of this work, the university creates full-cycle production and technological chains based on the network architecture of interaction to respond to "big challenges". The key areas of development cover a number of critical and end-to-end technologies that underlie three key strategic technological projects of the university: "Technologies of soil bioengineering", "Technologies of multifunctional microelectronics and intelligent sensors for biohybrid and cyberphysical systems" and "Technologies for accelerated development and transfer of strategically important materials in micro and low-tonnage production".