Platinum is essential to many hydrogen technologies because it is an unusually active, stable and selective catalyst for the reactions that make, move and use hydrogen in clean-energy systems.[3]
Why platinum is used in hydrogen systems
– Platinum has exceptional catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), meaning it efficiently promotes the conversion of protons and electrons into molecular hydrogen on an electrode surface[3].
– Platinum also performs extremely well for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR), which is the reverse step that converts H2 back to protons and electrons inside fuel cells[3].
– The metal’s resistance to corrosion and high-temperature stability let catalysts operate reliably in the acidic environments typical of proton exchange membrane electrolysers and fuel cells[7].
How platinum works in electrolysers and fuel cells
– In proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers, platinum on the cathode provides sites where protons from the membrane pick up electrons and form H2; the metal’s surface properties let adsorbed hydrogen atoms combine and desorb as H2 with low energy loss[3].
– In PEM fuel cells, platinum in the electrodes catalyzes hydrogen oxidation at the anode and often assists oxygen reduction at the cathode (sometimes together with other platinum group metals), enabling efficient electricity generation from H2[4].
– Small amounts of platinum dispersed as nanoparticles on carbon or other supports give high surface area and maximize the number of active sites per gram of metal, which is why even tiny loadings can be effective[3].
Where platinum is used beyond electrolysis and fuel cells
– Platinum and other PGMs act as promoters or primary catalysts in industrial hydrogen-related processes, including Fischer Tropsch and isomerization steps used to convert hydrogen and CO2 into liquid fuels or chemicals, where platinum improves activity and durability of cobalt-based catalysts[1].
– Heavy industry and mobility applications that rely on hydrogen, such as fuel-cell electric vehicles and some refinery processes, depend on platinum-containing components for performance and lifetime[2][4].
Practical implications and limits
– Platinum’s scarcity and concentrated supply (mainly from a few producers) make it expensive and create supply risk as hydrogen deployment scales, which is driving research into reducing platinum loading, recycling, and alternative catalysts[2][4].
– Industry strategies include using platinum more efficiently (smaller nanoparticles, improved supports), substituting other materials where possible, and recycling platinum from spent catalysts to ease supply pressure as electrolyser and fuel cell deployment grows[6][5].
Economic and strategic context
– Analysts and industry groups project rising platinum demand tied to hydrogen infrastructure, electrolyser capacity growth and fuel-cell adoption; several reports note the metal could be a significant incremental demand driver in the coming decade[2][4][6].
– Because platinum is strategically important to green hydrogen pathways and SAF production routes that use hydrogen, some countries are treating platinum as a critical mineral in planning and policy[4][1].
Sources
https://discoveryalert.com.au/pgm-catalyzed-water-splitting-mechanisms-2025/
https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/chinas-strategic-critical-mineral-classification-of-platinum-its-investment-implications-for-global-pgm-supply-pricing-and-emerging-developers
https://www.miningweekly.com/article/platinum-iridium-based-green-hydrogen-development-continuing-heraeus-reports-2025-12-09
https://bioenergytimes.com/global-platinum-demand-set-to-rise-as-sustainable-aviation-fuel-production-expands/
https://www.phoenixrefining.com/blog/russia-s-largest-palladium-producer-sees-platinum-deficit-this-year
https://www.imarcgroup.com/news/platinum-price-index