by InTrieste
In a groundbreaking advance for green energy, an international team of scientists led by the University of Trieste has developed a potential bifunctional catalyst just one atom thick. This new biomimetic material, which mimics the chemical properties of vitamin B12, could dramatically improve the efficiency of energy storage and transport systems, such as rechargeable batteries.
The study, published in Advanced Functional Materials, has attracted attention from researchers and technologists eager to push the boundaries of green energy solutions. The catalyst, synthesized on a graphene sheet, is designed to promote two distinct chemical reactions—a process scientists have long sought to achieve in the pursuit of cleaner and more efficient energy technologies.
“We’re still far from optimizing energy storage and transport technologies, but this discovery opens a path to greater efficiency,” said Erik Vesselli, professor of experimental physics at the University of Trieste and the project’s lead scientist. Vesselli explained that the need for separate catalytic agents to drive the oxidation and reduction processes in rechargeable batteries has been a major limitation. “Our research shows that we can look to nature for inspiration, creating new materials capable of facilitating multiple reactions simultaneously.”
The key to this advancement lies in cobalt, a strategic metal in catalysis. Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, features a single cobalt atom at its core and is known to catalyze diverse reactions depending on its oxidation state. By using a similar approach, Vesselli’s team successfully replicated this functionality in a lab setting.
The researchers used a combination of laser sources, synchrotron light, and advanced microscopy techniques, coupled with numerical simulations, to synthesize a material capable of adjusting its reactivity, much like the natural function of vitamin B12. The result is a material where multiple oxidation states can coexist—an achievement that promises to unlock new possibilities for bifunctional catalysts in the renewable energy sector.
“Energy storage and transport are highly strategic areas of research, and current technologies are not yet optimal,” said Vesselli. “With this material, we’ve created a catalyst that can promote different chemical reactions, offering huge potential for applications like battery development and other green energy technologies.”
The research was conducted in collaboration with Italy’s National Research Council, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, and Switzerland’s EPFL Surface Nanostructures Lab. It was funded as part of Italy’s PRIN 2022 and PRIN PNRR initiatives, both of which focus on scientific innovation.
Experts in the field are already considering the potential of this discovery for future energy technologies. Rechargeable batteries, for example, could become far more efficient, eliminating the need for two separate catalysts and reducing costs. “This breakthrough could offer a real solution to one of the major bottlenecks in energy storage,” noted one energy scientist who was not involved in the study.
With energy storage and transport increasingly central to global climate goals, the implications of this research could be significant. As nations race to meet net-zero emissions targets, the need for technological innovation in energy storage has never been greater. This single-atom catalyst, inspired by the natural world, may prove to be a key building block in the energy systems of the future.
“Nature has shown us the way,” Vesselli said. “Now it’s up to us to build on that knowledge to create technologies that can change the world.”
