Researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology have quadrupled the power output of hydrogen fuel cells using a new catalyst interface that speeds proton movement, a peer-reviewed study in the jounal Science reports.
China had about 32,000 fuel-cell vehicles on the roads at the end of 2025, and the government has set a target of 100,000 vehicles by 2030.
The latest fuel cell breakthrough comes as China’s hydrogen sector expands. By the end of 2025, the country’s hydrogen production capacity exceeded 51 million tonnes a year, while China accounted for 53 per cent of global renewable-energy-powered hydrogen projects based on electrolysis.
More than 130 fuel-cell power plants were operating in China by 2025, with combined installed capacity exceeding 30 mega-watts (MW). More than 20 long-distance hydrogen pipelines are also planned nationwide.
The Beijing Institute of Technology advance applies to proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), already used in many hydrogen-powered vehicles, which convert hydrogen’s chemical energy directly into electricity, producing only water as exhaust.
The new catalyst design:
- quadrupled power output reaching 0.75 W/cm² at 0.7V
- delivered 6.9 kilowatts of power per gram of platinum used, outperforming state-of-the-art fuel cells
- raised proton diffusion tenfold and improved conductivity 6.5 times
- retained 63% of peak power after 30,000 cycles compared to 30% for conventional cells
Sources:
SciTech Pulse, 10 Sep 2026. https://www.scitechpulse.com/en/news/china-fuel-cell-catalyst-quadruples-power
South China Morning Post, 11 Sep 2026. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3367077/chinese-scientists-boost-hydrogen-fuel-cell-power-fourfold-new-design
