THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 7, 2026

A breakthrough metal-free porous catalyst developed by scientists could pave the way for cheaper, safer and more sustainable next-generation clean-energy technologies by replacing platinum in a key electrochemical reaction, researchers said.

The newly developed material, which has demonstrated nearly 96 per cent of the performance of commercial platinum catalysts, could help lower the cost of zinc-air (Zn-air) batteries and other clean-energy systems that rely on efficient oxygen reduction reactions (ORR).

Zn-air batteries are considered promising for future energy storage as they use abundant, inexpensive and relatively safe zinc while drawing oxygen directly from the air, eliminating the need to store an active cathode material. Compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries, they offer the potential for higher theoretical energy density, lower material costs, improved safety and greater sustainability. However, challenges involving rechargeability, cycle life and the slow kinetics of ORR have so far limited their wider adoption.

Efficient oxygen electrochemistry is also critical to hydrogen fuel cells, which currently rely heavily on platinum as an ORR catalyst. Although platinum offers excellent catalytic performance, its scarcity, high cost and limited availability pose significant barriers to the large-scale deployment of clean-energy technologies.

Against this backdrop, researchers from the S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata, and the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, both under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), along with scientists from SRM University, Amaravati, have developed a specially designed metal-free organic porous material called TTT-DHTD.

The material is synthesised using 2,4,6-tris(4-aminophenyl)-1,3,5-triazine (TTT) and 4,8-dioxo-4,8-dihydrobenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b’]dithiophene-2,6-dicarbaldehyde (DHTD) linkers. The findings have been published in the journal Science Advances.

Built entirely from abundant elements including carbon, sulfur, nitrogen and hydrogen, TTT-DHTD forms an ultra-porous, honeycomb-like network that provides favourable sites for oxygen molecules to attach and undergo reactions needed for electricity generation.

Laboratory tests showed that when used as the air-electrode catalyst in Zn-air batteries, the material achieved about 96 per cent of the performance of commercial platinum catalysts while exhibiting remarkable stability. Even after 120 hours of continuous operation, it retained its performance without the degradation or contamination often associated with conventional metal-based catalysts.

The researchers, led by Dr Pradip Pachfule of SNBNCBS, Prof Ramendra Sundar Dey of INST and Prof Ranjit Thapa of SRM University, Amaravati, also employed advanced computer simulations to understand the origin of the material's catalytic performance.

The simulations indicated that the carefully engineered molecular architecture creates favourable active sites where oxygen molecules can readily bind and react, enabling the oxygen reduction process to proceed rapidly and efficiently.

The development could have wider implications for clean transportation, portable power systems and renewable-energy storage, where reducing dependence on costly precious metals is crucial for achieving commercial scalability.

Compared with hydrogen fuel cells, Zn-air batteries can offer a simpler and more compact energy-storage option without the need for high-pressure hydrogen storage or extensive hydrogen infrastructure. A durable, platinum-free catalyst could therefore strengthen the case for Zn-air technology as an affordable energy-storage solution.

The researchers said the work demonstrates how innovative molecular design, coupled with computational studies, can enable earth-abundant materials to approach the performance of precious metals in critical clean-energy reactions.

The advance also underscores India's growing capabilities in sustainable materials research and could contribute to efforts to make efficient and durable clean-energy technologies more accessible.

As countries seek economical alternatives to fossil-fuel-based energy systems, the development of TTT-DHTD offers a promising route towards reducing material costs and making next-generation batteries and fuel-cell technologies more affordable and scalable.