Oregon State researchers unveil light-driven material that splits water into hydrogen without metal catalyst

Scientists at Oregon State University have reported a novel photocatalyst that converts water into hydrogen using sunlight, removing the reliance on costly metal catalysts. The material, a metal-organic framework named BVR-19, features an unusual sulfide-to-sulfide bond that temporarily dissociates when exposed to light, producing highly reactive sulfur species that facilitate hydrogen evolution. Developed by Kyriakos Stylianou and his team, BVR-19 forms spontaneously in water at ambient temperature, reducing the energy required for synthesis.

The findings, appearing in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, outline new design principles for cheaper, more efficient green hydrogen generation. Funding was provided by the Murdock Charitable Trust, the National Science Foundation and Oregon State University's College of Science. This breakthrough could make solar-driven hydrogen more competitive with fossil-based production methods.