Scientists from Germany have developed a new scheme for producing alloys where the process of hydrogen reduction of iron and nickel oxide mixtures at a temperature of 700 degrees Celsius occurs with the participation of solid-state catalytic interaction. This interaction is capable of accelerating the process by at least twofold.
Nanoparticles of nickel play a key role in this mechanism, forming directly (in situ) from nickel oxide (NiO). These particles are capable of splitting hydrogen molecules, after which atomic hydrogen migrates to the surface of the iron oxide. The results of this study were published in the scientific journal Nature Synthesis.
Metal production is one of the most polluting activities, accounting for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The traditional pyrometallurgical method, which involves smelting ores in blast furnaces using coke, itself generates about 8% of CO2 emissions in the steel industry and consumes 10% of the world's energy volume.
One promising direction is the direct solid-state reduction of oxides with hydrogen. This method has the advantage that it does not require solvents, the production of which is also environmentally unfriendly, and it can be scaled up to reactors capable of processing millions of tons annually.
Until recently, existing approaches faced a significant problem—the extremely slow reduction stage of wüstite, which is a non-stoichiometric iron oxide Fe1-xO. The conversion of this compound into metallic iron is complicated by incomplete removal of water vapor and the high energy barrier required for the formation of the body-centered cubic lattice of iron, known as α-Fe, which is the basis for many steels.
Dirk Raabe from the Max Planck Society Institute for Sustainable Materials, together with his team of colleagues, found a solution by using nickel oxide. Initially, researchers studied pure metals, identifying suitable candidates using the volcanic diagram of hydrogen adsorption energies. These diagrams are based on the Sabatier principle, which states that optimal activity is achieved with moderate bond strength—strong enough for easy reactant adsorption, but not strong enough for irreversible binding to the catalyst. As a result, the group selected four metals: Ni, Co, W, and Cu.
Nickel proved to be the ideal choice because it combines high catalytic activity for hydrogen splitting with good thermodynamic and metallurgical compatibility with iron, while also being widely used in commercial steels. The other selected metals either had drawbacks or were less effective than nickel. Nevertheless, the scientists were concerned that using pure metallic catalysts increased both the financial and environmental burden.
Attempts to find a substitute for metallic catalysts led to the discovery of a new mechanism by adding nickel oxide to the initial mixture for steel production. Powders of Fe2O3 and NiO were mixed in proportions corresponding to the composition of invar alloy and subjected to hydrogen reduction at 700 degrees Celsius. NiO reduces much faster than iron oxides and first forms fine porous nanoparticles of nickel with a large specific surface area.
These particles come into contact with neighboring iron oxides and split H2 molecules into atomic hydrogen, which then transfers to the surface of the iron oxide—this process is known as hydrogen spillover. Thanks to this, the time required for complete reduction is halved compared to using pure Fe2O3, and the reduction start temperature is lowered by at least 100 degrees Celsius. When compared to adding pre-formed metallic nickel, which only provides a 1.6-fold acceleration, it is clear that NiO is more effective because the in situ formed particles provide the maximum contact area with the iron oxide, unlike previously existing Ni particles, which retain their original shape and are partially covered by reduced iron.
A special finding was that the alloy formation occurs simultaneously with the reduction process, and not after it, as assumed in classical post-reaction diffusion models. According to calculations based on thermodynamic databases, at 700 degrees Celsius under equilibrium conditions, iron and nickel atoms only need about 10 nanometers to diffuse in the alloy, which is significantly less than what is required for homogenization according to classical models, where this process would take more than five days.
However, data obtained using in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction demonstrated the complete completion of alloying in just 30 minutes. Atom probe tomography showed the accumulation of nickel at the metal-oxide interface and confirmed that during repeated cycles of oxidation and reduction, Ni2+ ions periodically migrate into the Fe1-xO lattice and leave it, thereby constantly maintaining catalytically active interfaces. Calculations performed using Density Functional Theory showed that the enthalpy of nickel distribution between the face-centered cubic metallic phase and FeO is -0.26 electron volts, confirming the existence of a thermodynamic stimulus for such solid-state redistribution.
The authors emphasize that they have not only proposed a more environmentally friendly solution to one of the problems in the metallurgical industry but have also revealed a previously unknown mechanism of solid-state catalysis. Understanding this mechanism will likely form the basis for developing new, more environmentally friendly methods for producing various alloys.
Two founders began their project by purchasing ten acres of arid land near the Kanha National Park. Initially, for about three years, they left this semi-desert area in Madhya Pradesh virtually untouched after acquiring it in December 2015. At the time of purchase, there were fewer than 300 trees.
Today, this protected area boasts over 6000 native plants and trees, as well as 59 species of birds. Furthermore, an artificial pond was created, which attracts wildlife during the summer when water is scarce in the region.
The founders, who had extensive experience in India's travel industry, noticed that tourism often benefits visitors but provides limited advantages to surrounding communities and ecosystems. They aimed to create an alternative model near one of India's renowned conservation areas.
The Surwahi Social Ecoestate project was conceived as a long-term social impact venture where tourism could contribute to land restoration, support local populations, and preserve traditional skills. The founders continued their corporate activities, funding the development of the property, including during the pandemic. During the first ten years, one founder actively participated in all stages of construction and management, while the other focused on shaping the ecological vision and overall direction.
After fencing off the land, locally known as Satkata Jungle, its restoration began. The fence prevented illegal logging and stopped vehicles involved in illegal sand mining along the nearby Sanduk River. Within two or three monsoon seasons, the forest began to regenerate naturally.
The team also dug an artificial pond named Arjun Talab to collect floodwaters and replenish groundwater, reducing the amount of unused rainwater flowing into the Sanduk River. A hydrogeological survey was conducted before drilling wells to map the aquifer and determine a suitable location. The study also recommended creating catchment trenches and using local plant species, such as Paras Pipal, Cassia siamea, and local bamboo, which determined the planting of about 1000 trees.
Of the more than 6000 plants and trees growing on the site, approximately 1500 were planted, with the remaining 4500 appearing through natural self-regeneration. As the forest recovered, more bees, birds, and butterflies returned, whose pollination activity supported further growth. Recently, the team added about 300 fruit and flowering varieties to the main complex.
As the land began to recover, Ankit and his team sought architects who shared their values. They eventually found Mrinmayee Architects from Bangalore, led by renowned professors from IISc and a young architect who worked with local stonemasons to realize the vision. The building plan was simple and uncompromising: the team aimed to avoid burnt red bricks, glass, and steel. Instead, thick mud walls were used, which helped the buildings naturally respond to temperature changes. The roofs were covered with recycled terracotta tiles collected from the debris of nearby village houses.
Ankit emphasized that 'every worker, from stonemason to painter and plumber, came from surrounding villages. This was a non-negotiable condition. This land belongs to these people. The least we could do was ensure they built it.' All furniture was either bought second-hand at the Gurundi market in Jabalpur or made by local bamboo craftsmen.
The first space, Maikal Express, opened in October 2019. The eight-bed earth dormitory was named after the Maikal hills near Kanha and designed as a 'wildlife co-living' space where nature, community, and tourism could coexist. After a few months, the pandemic paused Surwahi's plans, but the founders continued to support the project using their corporate earnings.
In December 2021, two family suites, Jolar and Karivah, named after villages relocated outside Kanha in the 1970s during the creation of the national park, were added to the eco-hotel. Ankit noted that they named them intentionally to keep this memory alive.
Today, Surwahi is fully operational, remaining small in scope while continuing to develop every part of the property according to its ecological and social goals.
When preparing the buildings, the team faced the question: how to manage a hotel in a forest buffer zone without harming the environment? They approached the study of sanitation, water, energy, and waste with the same rigor applied to the land and construction. Conventional septic tanks were excluded from the start. Finding another solution in a remote forested area required extensive research.
With support from Safalgram in Uttar Pradesh and international sanitation expert Martha Vanduzer-Snow from the USA, the team installed an evapotranspiration toilet. In this zero-discharge system, waste decomposes naturally using banana trees and other nitrogen-loving plants. The team claims this is the first such system in Madhya Pradesh.
A 1500-liter biodigester was installed on the other side of the property, utilizing bacteria developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. According to the team, this was also the first such system used by a hotel in the region at that time. Water received equal attention. Ankit stated: 'You don't gamble with groundwater in the forest. We believe we can be the first lodge in Madhya Pradesh to do this before drilling.'
Rainwater from the Satkon dining hall roof is directed into an internal fish pond. When the pond fills, an overflow helps replenish an old nearby well. The property also uses a chemically pure earth swimming pool instead of a conventional one. The power station is fueled by solar energy, and hot water is provided by a wood-fired steam boiler. Thin cotton towels reduce water consumption per wash, and plastic is completely banned.
The founders extended this mindset beyond the property boundaries. In 2017, Ankit proposed building a dam on the nearby Sanduk stream so farmers could retain water and grow a second crop. According to Ankit, it took years of persistent appeals at the Panchayat (village council), Tehsil (administrative unit), and district levels before it was finally approved and built under the MNREGA program. He noted: 'This is what it means to do the right thing in this country. You have to be prepared to wait and keep showing up.'
The banks of the dam suffered erosion after the first two monsoon seasons. Since then, Surwahi staff and local residents have maintained it seasonally, using burlap sacks filled with sand and excavated catchments. Water is now available longer, supporting the second crop, fishing, cattle grazing, and vegetation along the Sanduk. At least 10 families directly benefit from this.
However, water alone was not enough to solve the farmers' irrigation problem. They had access to water but lacked electricity to pump it to the fields. In 2019, Surwahi financed and provided an 11 kVA transformer and grid connection for agricultural land. The team describes this as the first installation of this kind in Madhya Pradesh. Thanks to the power line and subsidized state electricity billing, at least seven farmers have started growing a second crop.
Surwahi's work has received recognition from ICRT, TOFT, Outlook Traveller, and the Wildlife Tourism Conclave among others. Nevertheless, the founders continue to measure their progress by what still needs to be done. Their internal sustainability assessment covers water conservation, clean air, chemical-free soil, waste sorting and recycling, toilet waste management, reforestation, and community participation beyond direct employment.
The system also accounts for inclusive amenities for pets, the elderly, and guests with disabilities, alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals, local sourcing of food and materials, and sustainable building design, including the earth swimming pool. According to this assessment system, the team claims that Surwahi is confidently past the halfway point and rates its current sustainability at 70–80 percent. Ankit states: 'Currently, we are operating at a 70–80 percent sustainability level. But our goal is to continue closing this gap and soon reach 100 percent.'
Since all efforts were focused on land restoration, Ankit believed that conservation should improve the lives of the people living around the forest. He stressed: 'If the forest thrives, but the people living around it do not, then we haven't really solved anything. That's what we wanted to change.'
The team started with a clear principle: hire locals, patiently train them, and create opportunities that last longer than individual jobs. Priyanka Rastogi, another travel industry veteran, joined the team to lead planning and strategy. Suraj Singh and Lokesh Dongre joined as interns in 2024 and soon took on key roles focused on community-based tourism.
Priyanka notes: 'Creating jobs is only the first step. Real impact is achieved when people gain the confidence and skills to take responsibility, grow into leadership roles, and build long-term careers.'
Narendra Patle from the village of Sarekha was one of Surwahi's earliest employees. He joined as a caretaker while the eco-hotel was still under construction. Hospitality was an unfamiliar field for him. Through training and mentorship from Ankit, Narendra grew into the role of estate manager and now helps run Surwahi.
Pradap Uikey followed a similar path. He joined without formal culinary training and now works as the eco-hotel's chef. For Ankit, their stories reflect what community-managed tourism should achieve. Priyanka believes it would be easier to hire experienced managers from outside, but then the knowledge leaves when they leave. When locals reach leadership positions, the benefits stay in the community.
Some of Surwahi's most significant social projects were implemented through women from neighboring villages. In 2017, the founders helped establish the Deetiya Jagriti Self-Help Group, noticing that local women had limited opportunities to earn independently or form a collective voice. Today, over 40 women from nearby villages are members of this group. Through small member contributions, they have raised over 1 lakh rupees. The group provides these funds internally at one percent monthly interest, functioning as...
Illegal hunting of the Siberian mountain goat was recorded in the Akhangaran district of the Tashkent region. EcoPolice officers identified the violator after he attempted to sell parts of this rare animal's carcass.
The raid was organized jointly by employees of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change and representatives of the district internal affairs department. Law enforcement agencies discovered the process of selling parts of the wild animal's carcass in the Kuksaray mahalla.
The investigation established that a local resident hunted the animal without the necessary permits, thereby violating the provisions of the laws 'On the Protection and Use of Wildlife' and 'On Hunting and Hunting Farming.' According to experts, the ecological damage caused to nature exceeds 6 million soms.
Currently, the case materials are being collected for submission to court, which will review the violator's actions and determine the appropriate measure of responsibility. It was also previously reported that two citizens of Uzbekistan are due to appear before a court in Latvia on charges of cruel treatment of a swan, which led to its death.
A modern, energy-saving greenhouse complex with an area of 940 hectares is being constructed in the Sherobod district of the Surkhandarya region. Construction is being carried out in accordance with the President's decree from March 25 of this year on additional measures to ensure the population has agricultural products during the autumn and winter period.
A free economic zone named 'Surkhon-Agro' is being created on the territory that will become the administrative center for the local population. This zone is intended to ensure orderly, convenient, and efficient operations, and it also provides numerous benefits to entrepreneurs engaged in production.
The complex is supplied with reliable electricity, natural gas, drinking water, and sewage water.
Mahmud Zoyirov, director of 'Surkhandaryo Suv Qurilish Invest', reported that to provide sufficient sewage water for the large complex, the capacity of the 15-kilometer R 13 canal in the Sherobod district is being expanded from 2.5 cubic meters to 6 cubic meters. Currently, cleaning and expansion works are underway, as well as preparation for concrete laying. Additionally, a 35-kilometer collector is being cleaned, and all works are planned to be completed quickly and with high quality.
Employees of the 'Hududgaz Surkhandaryo' branch are actively working to connect the new greenhouse complex to natural gas. Abror Haidarov, head of the gas supply department of the Sherobod district branch, noted that a 20-kilometer gas pipeline will be brought to the complex. Currently, two crews are laying a 219 mm diameter gas pipeline, and a gas pipeline exceeding two diameters was installed in a short time. Work continues smoothly.
A pipe is being laid over a distance of 7.1 kilometers to supply the free economic zone with clean drinking water. To date, builders have already laid more than three kilometers of pipes. After these works are completed, sewage networks will be installed. High-voltage power lines are also being installed at the complex.
According to specialists, after the full commissioning of the greenhouse complex, more than 126 thousand tons of products will be produced annually. Of this, 18 thousand tons will be processed locally, and 6,300 permanent and 8,000 seasonal jobs will be created. This project will allow for the modernization of agriculture in the region and increase the export potential of the region, contributing to energy saving. Participants in the free economic zone are provided with special tax and customs benefits, as well as other preferences.
