Materials comparison
Pt vs PGM-Free HER Catalysts
A hydrogen-evolution catalyst comparison between platinum and lower-cost PGM-free candidate families.
Left material
Right material
PGM-free candidates
Decision frame
Pt remains the activity benchmark. PGM-free catalysts are attractive when cost, supply concentration, and scale matter enough to accept more validation work.
Use-case readout
Which Side Wins?
Benchmark activity: Pt
Supply-risk reduction: PGM-free candidates
Fast lab validation baseline: Pt
Large-scale alkaline cost pressure: PGM-free candidates
Tradeoff table
Comparison Signals
| Signal | Pt | PGM-free candidates | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activity benchmark | Near ideal HER reference | Candidate-specific; screen by Sabatier distance | The useful PGM-free page is a ranked screen, not a blanket replacement claim. |
| Supply exposure | High PGM concentration risk | Depends on Ni, Mo, Sb, S, P, Fe, Cu mix | PGM-free does not automatically mean risk-free. |
| Patent density | Very high | Variable by family and use claim | Exact composition and application claims matter. |
| Best use | Benchmark and premium catalyst layers | Cost-sensitive alkaline or AEM pathways | The deployment decision depends on stack architecture and target cost. |
Related pages
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