Hydrogen needs platinum because this rare metal acts as a super-efficient catalyst to speed up key reactions for producing, using, and storing clean hydrogen energy. Without platinum, these processes would be too slow or inefficient to make green hydrogen practical for cars, power plants, and industry.
Hydrogen production starts with splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. In proton exchange membrane electrolyzers, platinum helps hydrogen ions stick to its surface, grab electrons, and form hydrogen gas molecules in a smooth two-step process.https://discoveryalert.com.au/pgm-catalyzed-water-splitting-mechanisms-2025/ This is crucial for green hydrogen made from renewable electricity, and current setups need about 0.8 grams of platinum per kilowatt of power, though targets aim to cut that to 0.1 grams by 2026.https://shanakaanslemperera.substack.com/p/the-platinum-singularity-how-the
On the flip side, to turn hydrogen back into electricity, fuel cells rely on platinum for the hydrogen oxidation reaction, or HOR. Here, platinum breaks hydrogen into protons and electrons at low voltages, powering vehicles like heavy-duty trucks that need 45 to 120 grams of platinum each for long life.https://shanakaanslemperera.substack.com/p/the-platinum-singularity-how-thehttps://www.interactivebrokers.com/campus/traders-insight/securities/commodities/why-a-structural-deficit-and-hydrogen-economy-could-boost-platinum/ Platinum also drives the hydrogen evolution reaction, or HER, to make hydrogen from protons and electrons, and it’s the best at this despite its high cost.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.202522214
What makes platinum special is its surface. Hydrogen atoms bind just right—not too weak to ignore, not too strong to get stuck. Tiny platinum particles, even sub-2-nanometer ones, form helpful surface hydrides that boost speed and tweak stability by loosening ties to supports like carbon.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65122-2 No other cheap metal matches this balance, so alternatives fall short for real-world scale.
Platinum demand from hydrogen tech is set to grow fast. By 2030, fuel cell vehicles, electrolyzers, and backup power could use 875,000 to 900,000 ounces yearly, outpacing other sectors.https://www.interactivebrokers.com/campus/traders-insight/securities/commodities/why-a-structural-deficit-and-hydrogen-economy-could-boost-platinum/ Even solid oxide systems, which run hot, lean on platinum for efficiency.https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5c04734 Atomically dispersed platinum stays stable under light or stress, hitting key thresholds for lasting performance.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/anie.202522214
Sources
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65122-2
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.202522214
https://discoveryalert.com.au/pgm-catalyzed-water-splitting-mechanisms-2025/
https://shanakaanslemperera.substack.com/p/the-platinum-singularity-how-the
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5c04734
https://www.interactivebrokers.com/campus/traders-insight/securities/commodities/why-a-structural-deficit-and-hydrogen-economy-could-boost-platinum/
https://onli