Green hydrogen is one of the most promising routes to a fossil-free energy system. But the catalysts that drive the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are still far from optimal. Improving them requires understanding exactly what happens at the electrode surface, at the atomic level, while the reaction is actually running.
We’re proud to announce H2NANO, a project awarded under the Holland High Tech TKI HTSM MKB call. H2NANO brings together the scanning probe instrumentation expertise of Leiden Probe Microscopy with the world-class surface science capabilities of AMOLF.
The Challenge
Catalyst development for green hydrogen today is largely empirical: synthesize, test, iterate. The atomic-scale processes that determine activity and stability at the electrolyte-electrode interface remain invisible during operation. Without a window into that interface, rational catalyst design is largely guesswork. Researchers can measure the outcome, but not see the mechanism.
What H2NANO Builds
H2NANO develops Electrochemical Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (EC-STM) capable of imaging catalyst surfaces operando. This is under real electrochemical conditions, while the hydrogen evolution reaction is actively running.
Using EC-Current Imaging Tunneling Spectroscopy (EC-CITS), the instrument maps local electronic structure and active site distribution with atomic resolution, directly linking surface chemistry to catalytic performance. Rather than inferring activity from before-and-after measurements, researchers will be able to watch the active sites of a catalyst as they function.
Why This Matters
Better imaging means faster catalyst discovery. By creating a direct feedback loop between atomic-scale surface science and electrolyser performance, H2NANO aims to accelerate the path to cheaper, more durable green hydrogen production.
The Netherlands is uniquely positioned to lead this effort: world-class SPM instrumentation, combined with frontier materials research, sitting at the heart of Europe’s energy transition.
Get in touch
Curious what operando EC-STM can reveal about your catalysts? Get in touch with us. We’d love to discuss what this technique could mean for your materials.
H2NANO is a collaboration between Leiden Probe Microscopy and AMOLF, awarded under the Holland High Tech TKI HTSM MKB call.