BRIN Develops Battery Waste-Based Nanocarbon Catalyst for Hydrogen Production
Efforts to develop environmentally friendly energy continue to be a primary focus in addressing global challenges related to the energy crisis and climate change. One approach that is increasingly developing is through the field of green and sustainable chemistry, which not only emphasizes the efficiency of chemical processes but also the utilization of sustainable and environmentally friendly raw materials.
Indri Badria Adilina, Principal Expert Researcher at the Catalysis Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), is using an approach with more environmentally friendly catalyst materials. This simultaneously supports the development of a circular economy in Indonesia and contributes to the advancement of green technology, which is increasingly needed at both the national and global levels.
Along with the transition of transportation from fossil fuels to electric energy, a new challenge has emerged in the form of increasing battery waste that has the potential to pollute the environment. In response to this situation, Indri has developed her research by utilizing battery waste as the base material for producing nanocarbon catalysts.
This effort not only aims to reduce the potential for pollution but also opens opportunities for the development of more efficient and sustainable catalytic materials to support green chemistry production.
In this innovation, she utilizes the carbon content from the black mass of used batteries as a nanocarbon catalyst for the production of hydrogen gas from water through electrocatalytic water splitting, as an alternative fuel.
According to Indri, the carbon from battery waste has its own unique characteristics. After modification, this material exhibits high electrical conductivity, enabling it to effectively conduct electrons in the electrocatalytic process to produce hydrogen.
“Inside battery waste, there is carbon-based material that has the potential to serve as a raw material for catalysts. Through modification using a nanotechnology approach, this material can be developed into advanced nanostructured materials that are effective for various catalytic reactions,” said Indri during an interview with BRIN’s Public Relations on Monday (16/3).
In addition, this carbon-based catalyst derived from battery waste also possesses a large surface area and a porous nano structure, which play a significant role in enhancing electron transfer efficiency and accelerating hydrogen production.
“Carbon black mass or carbon from used batteries has a uniqueness that, after modification, can provide high conductivity, allowing it to conduct the electrons needed for the electrocatalytic process in water splitting to produce hydrogen. In this electrocatalytic process, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using the nanocarbon catalyst, thereby producing green hydrogen that can be used as an alternative hydrogen biofuel,” explained Indri.
In the research, Indri tested the nanostructured catalyst through analysis of surface area, morphology, structure, as well as pores and nanopores. This characterization was carried out using imaging techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Meanwhile, in-depth analysis at the atomic and molecular level was carried out through advanced characterization using accelerator-based facilities, particularly X-ray synchrotron and neutron scattering.
“Through advanced characterization, we can examine more deeply the chemical structure, pores, and nanocarbon, allowing us to obtain an effective catalyst without any unwanted structural changes in this electrocatalytic reaction,” explained Indri.
Furthermore, she stated that more than 90 percent of industries require catalysts. Catalysts are needed across various fields besides research, such as medicine, textiles, and food. According to her, catalysts can be likened to “magic powder” because they are able to lower the activation energy in a chemical process. Without the presence of a catalyst, the energy required to run the process would be much greater.
“In research, catalysts can reduce activation energy by 2-3 times compared to processes without catalysts. By using this nanocarbon catalyst, the activation energy required in the hydrogen production process as an alternative energy source can be lowered,” added Indri.
This research is the result of collaboration with various parties, both domestic and international. The battery-related research was conducted in collaboration with colleagues from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and researchers from the Nanotechnology Systems Research Center of BRIN.
Furthermore, international collaborations are also being conducted by utilizing large-scale research facilities to investigate catalytic mechanisms and material performance under realistic conditions. This includes the use of accelerator-based spectroscopy techniques with collaborators from the United Kingdom (UK), as well as the use of synchrotron X-ray facilities in collaboration with researchers from Taiwan.
"Foreign collaborations, such as accelerator-based spectroscopy, are being conducted with the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Oxford, UK, and synchrotron X-rays with colleagues at the Synchrotron Light Research Institute (SLRI) in Taiwan," explained Indri.
Collaboration with Industry
Indri emphasized that realizing a circular economy in Indonesia cannot be achieved solely by researchers. Close collaboration with the industrial sector is needed to jointly advance the field of green and sustainable chemistry and drive a more modern and sustainable industrial transformation.
"Industry certainly desires cost-effective catalytic chemical processes. This can be achieved by producing catalysts with a long lifespan and high efficiency. This will automatically lower production costs, thus benefiting the industry as well," explained Indri.
Going forward, she hopes to educate the industry to bridge the gap between them and researchers. She stated that BRIN (National Agency for Research and Innovation) is currently developing science through advanced technologies such as accelerator technology. This technology allows for early identification of phenomena such as catalyst deactivation and changes in catalyst nanostructure, which can reduce catalyst performance. This will indirectly impact efficiency and costs in industrial processes.
"I hope the industry can engage in co-development in these fundamental areas, as this is a bridge to becoming a more effective and efficient modern industry, which can ultimately realize a circular economy in Indonesia," concluded Indri.
