This footage was filmed and produced 16 April 2024.

In a groundbreaking breakthrough, scientists have pioneered a method to convert metal waste into a highly efficient catalyst for hydrogen production from water, potentially revolutionizing the sustainability of hydrogen manufacturing.

A collaborative effort led by researchers from the University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry and Faculty of Engineering has uncovered a remarkable property of swarf, a byproduct of the metal machining industry. The surface of swarf, upon microscopic examination, reveals intricate nanoscale textures comprising tiny steps and grooves. These textures serve as ideal anchoring points for atoms of platinum or cobalt, transforming swarf into a potent electrocatalyst capable of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Published in the Journal of Material Chemistry A by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the research heralds a promising avenue for green hydrogen production. Unlike conventional methods reliant on fossil fuel feedstock, electrolysis of water offers a sustainable alternative, necessitating only water and electricity.

Employing magnetron sputtering, the researchers coat the swarf's surface with platinum atoms, which then coalesce into nanoparticles that snugly fit within the nanoscale grooves.

As the world seeks sustainable solutions to combat climate change, this pioneering research offers a glimpse into a future where waste becomes a resource for renewable energy production.