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>The catalyst’s novelty lies in its nanoscale structure, consisting of copper nanoparticles embedded in carbon spikes. This nano-texturing approach avoids the use of expensive or rare metals such as platinum that limit the economic viability of many catalysts.

How about large scale production of the catalyst? Do we have any idea of how to produce efficiently a "nanoscale structure consisting of copper nanoparticles embedded in carbon spikes" in large quantities?

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No idea about this material in specific but a lot of nanoscale stuff is manufactured using photo lithography, basically the same way we make micro conductors since it's a process we understand well and we can scale (just ask Intel.)

It sounds like this material would have good tolerance for minor imperfections (unlike IC) so yield could be really good.

The problem with this one attempt is the energy input required for it to work. That requires major research on the cathode.

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