Catalysis reimagined: JARA-ENERGY team develops highly efficient iridium catalyst

Researchers from the two JARA partners RWTH Aachen University and Forschungszentrum Jülich have developed a novel catalyst that, for the first time, combines the advantages of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis within a single material. The innovative concept is based on iridium and achieved five times higher activity in the laboratory compared to previous reference systems, while maintaining high stability. This combination was previously considered virtually impossible to achieve.

The new Solid Molecular Catalyst (SMC) merges molecular precision with industrial practicality, opening up new perspectives for the efficient use of green hydrogen as an energy storage medium. Prof. Regina Palkovits (JARA-ENERGY) and her team at RWTH Aachen University and Forschungszentrum Jülich have been instrumental in its development.

The research results have been published in the renowned journal EES Catalysis of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Further information is available on the Forschungszentrum Jülich website: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/news/archive/press-release/2025/new-catalyst-approach-combines-the-best-of-two-worlds