A molecular switch for green hydrogen: Catalyst changes function based on how it's assembled

Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS)

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Hydrogen production through water electrolysis is a cornerstone of the clean energy transition, but it relies on efficient and stable catalysts that work under acidic conditions—currently dominated by precious metals like iridium and platinum. A research team from the Singular Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS) in Spain, led by María Giménez-López, has made a fundamental advance toward earth-abundant alternatives. Their work, published in the prestigious journal Advanced Materials, shows that a single molecular compound can act as a catalytic "switch", toggling between oxygen and hydrogen production.

At the heart of the discovery is a hybrid material combining a vanadium cluster (a polyoxometalate) with carbon nanotubes. "The 'switch' is not in the metal cluster itself, but in how the organic cations around it are arranged," explains Giménez-López. "When the material is physically mixed with the nanotubes, these cations—called TRIS⁺—remain locked in the crystal structure. This steers the reaction toward oxygen production through a special oxidation mechanism. However, when we let it assemble in a directed way, the same TRIS⁺ cations are released, orient toward the surface, and act as a 'proton sponge'. This simple change in molecular architecture turns the system into an exceptional catalyst for hydrogen."

At the molecular level, the vanadium cluster acts as a stable, reversible electron reservoir in both configurations. The final function—oxygen or hydrogen—is determined by the TRIS⁺ cations, which modulate the local electrochemical microenvironment depending on their accessibility. When blocked, they promote water activation for oxygen release. When free and exposed, they capture protons and facilitate their reduction to hydrogen. Thus, the function switch stems not from changing the chemical composition, but from controlling the supramolecular architecture of the assembly.

Electrochemical data back this molecular switch. In its oxygen configuration, the material rivals commercial iridium. In its hydrogen setup, its efficiency approaches that of platinum, the benchmark. This work is part of Giménez-López's research line at CiQUS, focused on designing new materials for energy storage and conversion, where the controlled use of carbon nanotubes as smart supports plays a key role.

"This work establishes that the catalytic switch is topological and microenvironmental, not compositional," the researcher emphasizes. The study not only presents a promising candidate for more sustainable electrolyzers, but also proposes a new paradigm: the possibility of programming the reactivity of molecular catalysts by controlling their assembly, opening a rational path to design multifunctional, durable, and earth-abundant materials.

The work was carried out in collaboration with researchers from CICECO (University of Aveiro, Portugal) and received funding from the European Union and regional programs.

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Journal

Advanced Materials

DOI

10.1002/adma.202512902 

Article Title

POM-Based Water Splitting Catalyst Under Acid Conditions Driven by Its Assembly on Carbon Nanotubes

 

AIT signs five new partnerships to strengthen water, sanitation, and digital municipal services during IWA Water and Development Congress and Exhibition 2025

Asian Institute of Technology

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(11 December 2025) The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has deepened its commitment to cleaner water, better sanitation, and smarter cities by signing five new Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with international partners from the USA, Europe, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The MoUs were signed on 11 December 2025 during the IWA Water and Development Congress and Exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand. All activities under the Agreements will be carried out through AIT's Global Water & Sanitation Center (GWSC).

Welcoming the delegates, GWSC’s Chief Operating Officer Mr. Agus Nugroho briefed about the objectives of the Agreements whereas Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Director of Office of International Affairs, welcomed all five new partners in AIT's ecosystem of partnerships working in the areas of water and sanitation. 

GWSC's Co-Directors, Prof. Sangam Shrestha and Prof. Thammarat Koottatep, highlighted that since the establishment of the Global Water & Sanitation Center (GWSC) at AIT, the Center's vision has been to create a strong collaborative platform that brings together governments, academia, development partners, innovators, and practitioners to accelerate the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) agenda across the region. They emphasized that partnerships are fundamental to realizing this vision.

The MoUs signed on this occasion demonstrate the diversity and strength of the growing GWSC ecosystem, encompassing digital innovation, applied research, capacity development, systems strengthening, and global thought leadership—collectively reinforcing GWSC's role as a regional hub for transformative WASH solutions.

The signing ceremony was also witnessed by Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha, AIT BoT member and who also played a role of catalyst in these partnerships, expressed his happiness to see all the partners collaborating for a common goal of trying to solve water and sanitation issues together.

The five new partners are Athena Infonomics (USA), IRC Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC WASH, The Netherlands), the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI, India), Innovative Solution Pvt. Ltd. (ISPL, Nepal), and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET, Bangladesh). Together, these partnerships aim to strengthen WASH systems, support digital innovation, and improve municipal governance across Asia and beyond.

 

Working with Athena Infonomics: Data, Digital Tools, and Real-World Impact

 

AIT’s partnership with Athena Infonomics focuses on using data, research, and digital tools to improve WASH and waste management services.

Through this MoU, AIT and Athena will work together on implementation and technical support, with Athena providing specialized expertise in monitoring, evaluation, systems strengthening, and digital innovation in WASH and waste management. The two institutions will jointly conduct research and knowledge generation to produce evidence-based insights that can shape policies and programs at regional and global levels. They will also co-design training programs, workshops, and mentorship activities to build the skills of students and professionals working in WASH and digital infrastructure. 

In addition, AIT and Athena plan to develop and bid for projects together, combining AIT's academic and research strengths with Athena's strong field presence in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. A joint coordination committee between GWSC and Athena will guide the collaboration and track progress.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President, AIT and Ms. Deepa Karthykeyan, Co-Founder & Partner, Athena Infonomics.

 

Partnering with IRC WASH: Building Stronger WASH Systems

 

The MoU with IRC Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC WASH) brings together AIT's regional presence and IRC's long-standing experience in systems thinking for WASH.

Through this partnership, AIT and IRC WASH will co-design and deliver capacity development activities, including training programs, workshops, technical exchanges, and advisory support. They will create and share knowledge resources such as case studies, learning materials, and tools that help governments and practitioners strengthen WASH systems, while also engaging in joint policy dialogue and advocacy by participating in key national, regional, and global forums and networks. The partners will exchange technical expertise and work together on projects, research, and field implementation wherever there is mutual interest.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President, AIT and Dr. Patrick Moriarty, CEO, IRC WASH.

 

Collaboration with ASCI: Innovation and Capacity Building for WASH and Beyond

 

AIT's agreement with the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) creates a framework for collaboration on research, training, and innovation in WASH and related areas such as solid waste management, climate resilience, marine plastic waste, and digital solutions.

Under this MoU, AIT and ASCI plan to conduct joint research and knowledge development on Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) and other shared priority topics, including climate resilience and digital WASH tools like IMIS. They will co-develop and deliver capacity-building programs, adapting and contextualizing training modules for local governments, international financial institutions, and communities. The collaboration will also promote WASH innovation through incubation of technology solutions, mentorship, learning events, and innovation roadshows. In addition, the partners will explore regional replication of the WASH Innovation Hub model, working with local partners to bring successful approaches to more cities and regions, and will facilitate the exchange of experts and trainers to support joint initiatives and advisory work.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President, AIT and Dr. B. Janardhan Reddy, IAS (Retd.), Centre Director of CEUG&ID, ASCI.

 

Partnering with ISPL in Nepal: Scaling Digital Transformation in Municipal Governance

 

The MoU with Innovative Solution Pvt. Ltd. (ISPL) in Nepal focuses on the establishment and growth of an Integrated Municipal Information System (IMIS) Lab. This lab will act as a space for testing, refining, and scaling digital tools for municipal management.

Through this partnership, AIT and ISPL will work together to promote innovation, capacity building, and digital transformation in municipal governance through the IMIS platform. They will support research, development, and deployment of IMIS solutions tailored to the needs and realities of municipalities, while strengthening institutional arrangements to ensure sustained technical support and effective knowledge management. The collaboration will further aim to expand the regional footprint of IMIS by building partnerships that help more cities benefit from data-driven decision-making.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President, AIT and Dr. Bhusan Raj Shrestha, Managing Director of ISPL.

 

Partnering with ITN-BUET in Bangladesh: Advancing Digital Sanitation Governance

 

AIT's partnership with BUET through ITN-BUET operationalizes a strategic collaboration to advance Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) and strengthen digital governance in urban sanitation. The Agreement focuses on enhancing the capacity of municipal and sectoral stakeholders in Bangladesh by supporting the deployment, localization, and integration of the Integrated Municipal Information System (IMIS) for digital service delivery, monitoring, and alignment with national platforms.

Building on GWSC's regional expertise and ITN-BUET's national leadership in capacity building, the partnership will promote IMIS adoption, deliver targeted training and knowledge exchange, and co-develop contextualized knowledge products to inform decision-making and urban sanitation planning.

The agreement was signed by Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President, AIT, and Prof. Dr. Abu Borhan Mohammad Badruzzaman, Vice Chancellor, BUET. 

The signing was witnessed by Prof. Sangam Shrestha and Prof. Thammarat Koottatep, Co-Directors of GWSC. These five MoUs showcase AIT's commitment to working with practitioners, innovators, and policymakers to turn research and digital innovation into safer water, better sanitation, and more resilient services for all.

 

EdUHK scholar co-authors breakthrough study in Nature Communications on “multi-core” black carbon aerosols and climate impact

The Education University of Hong Kong

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Traditionally, black carbon (BC) particles were represented as simple “core-shell” structure in global climate simulations, with a single carbon core located at the particle center surrounded by outer layers. However, an international inter-disciplinary research team, comprising scholars from Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Japan, and South Korea, has found that in long-range transported wildfire smoke, about one fifth (21%) of black carbon particles—especially those larger than 400nm in diameter, contain two or more cores. These “multi-core” aerosols, previously unaccounted for in global climate models, may hold the answer to the persistent underestimation of BC’s light absorption by approximately 50% compared to real-world measurements. 

Dr Joseph Ching, Assistant Professor in the Department of Science and Environmental Studies at EdUHK, is part of that international research team led by Professor Weijun Li from the School of Earth Sciences at Zhejiang University. The collaboration also includes experts in atmospheric science, global climate modeling, electron microscopy, atmospheric environment, air pollution, and earth system science. 

The findings were recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications.

Key Findings 
Widefires are becoming deadlier and more costly. According to data by global re-insurer Munich Re quoted by the media, of the 200 most damaging fires since 1980, half of those costing US$1bn or more occurred in the last decade. Understanding the true impact of the BC particles produced by wildfires is therefore crucial for assessing their effects on the climate system and developing effective solutions.  

Previous theories suggested that BC “ages” primarily by accumulating additional layers. Hence, its climate impact has often been calculated under the assumption of a single core per particle emitted to the atmosphere.  However, based on fieldwork conducted during Yunnan’s wildfire season combined with advanced electron microscopy, the international team found that particles can collide and coalesce, forming clusters with multiple cores within a single particle which often exceed 200nm in core diameter. 

Dr Chen Xiyao, lead author of the study, stated, “The mixing state of BC is fundamental to understanding its climate effects. Ignoring coagulation and multi-core structures impedes accurate assessment and policy development regarding BC’s role in climate change.”

Innovative Approach
To quantify the impact of multi-core particles, the team developed a machine learning emulator for absorption enhancements and incorporated it into a global atmospheric model. Their simulations revealed that multi‒core BC particles contribute to a 19% increase in global average BC absorption, particularly in wildfire-affected regions including Southeast Asia, southwestern China, the Tibetan Plateau, Southern Africa, and North America. 

Professor Li Weijun, corresponding author, explained, “Our nanoscale observations have identified abundant multi-core black carbon particles in both wildfire and urban environments—structures previously unrepresented in climate models. By refining our algorithms, we have simulated their enhanced optical absorption and quantified their contribution to global warming, enabling more precise evaluation of black carbon’s climate impact. This study provides a more solid foundation in atmospheric science for climate governance and global cooperation.” 

Dr Joseph Ching, who played a pivotal role in the atmospheric modelling component, added that the integrated approach of combining particle-level measurements, optical simulations, global climate modeling and machine learning, advances our understanding of black carbon’s warming effects and brings us closer to accurately assessing its radiative forcing, and supports the development of more effective climate policies.

Moving Forward
The authors recommend that future climate models explicitly incorporate the multi-core mixing state of black carbon to improve the accuracy of global radiative forcing assessments and guide more informed emission reduction strategies. 

Co-author Professor Mark Jacobson of Stanford University highlighted that this research reinforces black carbon’s role as the second-leading contributor to global warming, emphasising the urgency of mitigation efforts. 

Given the projected increase in wildfire activity and anthropogenic emissions under ongoing global warming, integrating these insights is essential for effective climate governance and international collaboration. The study also contributes to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 13 (Climate Action).

The full publication of the study is available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65079-2 

— Ends —

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Journal

Nature Communications

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Locating the missing absorption enhancement due to multi‒core black carbon aerosols

 

Moral arguments about care and fairness persuade both liberals and conservatives

Stockholm University

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A new study in Public Opinion Quarterly shows that moral arguments appealing to care and fairness can persuade both liberals and conservatives in the United States. By contrast, arguments grounded in the “binding” moral foundations – loyalty, authority and sanctity – primarily influence conservatives.

In the study, conducted by researchers at Stockholm University, Mälardalen University, and the Institute for Futures Studies, the authors find an asymmetry: arguments that tend to move liberals in a more liberal direction also persuade conservatives, whereas arguments that tend to move conservatives in a more conservative direction do not persuade liberals.

At the same time, surveys show that moral values in many countries have, over time, shifted in a more socially progressive and liberal direction, including in the United States, where this study was conducted. The findings help explain why such change can occur even in an increasingly polarised public debate.

– We see that people are not immune to arguments, but they do listen selectively. Arguments that connect to a receiver’s core moral values are far more likely to produce genuine opinion change, says Fredrik Jansson, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Mälardalen University, affiliated researcher at the Centre for Cultural Evolution at Stockholm University and the Institute for Futures Studies, and lead author of the study.

Care and fairness are shared moral foundations

The study builds on a particular result from Moral Foundations Theory, which distinguishes between individualising foundations (care/harm and fairness/cheating) and, so called, binding foundations (loyalty, authority and sanctity). Previous research suggests that liberals place particular emphasis on care and fairness, while conservatives also place relatively greater emphasis on loyalty, authority, and sanctity—yet still endorse care and fairness as morally important.

The new study tests whether this pattern also holds in practice when people take positions on concrete political and moral issues, potentially offering a key to understanding what persuades different political groups.

The findings of the study

In an experiment, 375 US participants reported their moral values and political attitudes. They then stated their positions on nine contested issues, for example, hate speech, military spending, universal healthcare, suicide, and same-sex marriage. Participants next read short arguments supporting particular positions, framed either in individualising terms or binding terms, and then stated their positions again.

As expected, binding arguments led conservative participants to change their minds, but had no effect on liberal participants. Individualising arguments, however, persuaded participants on both sides – and were not less persuasive for conservatives than binding arguments. The results suggest that care and fairness function as shared moral foundations across political divides, meaning that different groups can, to some extent, be swayed by the same kinds of moral appeals.

The researchers also found that these effects are better explained by participants’ moral value profiles than by their political labels. The more important someone considers for instance impartial treatment, the more receptive they are to fairness-based arguments; and the more important someone considers, for instance, obedience and respect for legitimate authority, the more receptive they are to authority-based arguments.

– Our values act as filters. Arguments that don’t fit are filtered out, while those that connect to what already exists in our belief system get through and can force a reassessment, says Fredrik Jansson.

One example is same-sex marriage. Someone who prioritises care and fairness may find it difficult to dismiss arguments about equal rights. Someone who prioritises tradition, social order, and stability may instead be influenced by arguments that inclusion of more groups of people strengthens marriage as a societal institution.

Arguments that clash with our core values can often be rejected immediately. But when an argument for a position we initially dislike is framed in terms of our own moral foundations – such as care and fairness, or tradition and social stability – it becomes harder to ignore. That creates dissonance, which is often resolved more easily by adjusting one’s opinion than by questioning one’s underlying values.

Why values drift in a more progressive direction

The findings offer one piece of the puzzle for why moral values in many countries – despite political polarisation – often shift over time in a more liberal and socially progressive direction.

– There’s a built-in moral asymmetry in public debate: arguments about care and fairness can sway both liberals and conservatives, whereas more conservative, binding arguments mostly persuade those who are already conservative. Over time, that imbalance produces a net shift towards more progressive positions, says Pontus Strimling, researcher at the Institute for Futures Studies and co-author of the article.

Read the research article

The article “Susceptibility to Moral Arguments Among Liberals and Conservatives” is published in Public Opinion Quarterly (Oxford University Press).

DOI: 10.1093/poq/nfaf045

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Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People