The production of green hydrogen, a clean and renewable energy source, has long been hampered by its high cost. However, researchers from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation (COE-CSI) and the University of Adelaide have made significant strides in developing two innovative systems that harness the power of urea found in urine and wastewater to generate hydrogen efficiently.

Unlike traditional water-splitting electrolysis, which is energy-intensive and costly, these new pathways use significantly less electricity. The researchers’ breakthroughs address several limitations associated with existing urea-based systems, such as low hydrogen yields and the generation of toxic nitrogenous by-products (nitrates and nitrites).

The COE-CSI team, led by Professor Yao Zheng and Professor Shizhang Qiao, has successfully developed two separate systems that overcome these issues. The first system utilizes a membrane-free electrolysis process with a novel copper-based catalyst, while the second employs a platinum-based catalyst on carbon supports to generate hydrogen from urine.

One of the most exciting aspects of this research is the use of human urine as an alternative source for urea production. This green and cost-effective approach has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of making hydrogen, while also remediating nitrogenous waste in aquatic environments.

As Professor Zheng notes, “We need to reduce the cost of making hydrogen, but in a carbon-neutral way.” The researchers’ innovative systems are designed to produce harmless nitrogen gas instead of toxic by-products, and they use between 20-27% less electricity than traditional water-splitting systems.

The University of Adelaide team is committed to building on this fundamental research by developing carbon-supported, non-precious metal catalysts for constructing membrane-free urine-wastewater systems. This will achieve lower-cost recovery of green hydrogen while remediating the wastewater environment.

This breakthrough has far-reaching implications for the global energy crisis and the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. As we continue to push the boundaries of innovation, it is essential that we develop technologies that not only address our energy needs but also minimize their environmental impact. The COE-CSI team’s work on green hydrogen production from urine and wastewater is a shining example of this vision, and its potential to transform the industry cannot be overstated.

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Breaking Down Barriers: Groundbreaking Recycling Technique Turns ‘Forever Chemicals’ into Renewable Resources

In a major breakthrough, researchers at the University of Leicester have developed a revolutionary technique to efficiently separate valuable catalyst materials and fluorinated polymer membranes (PFAS) from catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs). This achievement has significant implications for preventing potentially harmful chemicals from contaminating our environment.

PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are known to contaminate drinking water and have serious health implications. The Royal Society of Chemistry has urged government intervention to reduce PFAS levels in UK water supplies.

Fuel cells and water electrolysers, essential components of hydrogen-powered energy systems, rely on CCMs containing precious platinum group metals. However, the strong adhesion between catalyst layers and PFAS membranes has made recycling difficult.

The researchers’ innovative method uses organic solvent soaking and water ultrasonication to effectively separate these materials, revolutionizing the recycling process. Dr. Jake Yang from the University of Leicester School of Chemistry comments, “This method is simple and scalable. We can now separate PFAS membranes from precious metals without harsh chemicals – revolutionizing how we recycle fuel cells.”

Building on this success, a follow-up study introduced a continuous delamination process using high-frequency ultrasound to split the membranes, accelerating recycling. The innovative process creates bubbles that collapse when subjected to high pressure, allowing the precious catalysts to be separated in seconds at room temperature.

This groundbreaking research was carried out in collaboration with Johnson Matthey, a global leader in sustainable technologies. Industry-academia partnerships like this underscore the importance of collective efforts in driving technological progress.

Ross Gordon, Principal Research Scientist at Johnson Matthey, says, “The development of high-intensity ultrasound to separate catalyst-loaded membranes is a game-changer in how we approach fuel cell recycling. At Johnson Matthey, we are proud to collaborate on pioneering solutions that accelerate the adoption of hydrogen-powered energy while making it more sustainable and economically viable.”

As fuel cell demand continues to grow, this breakthrough contributes to the circular economy by enabling efficient recycling of essential clean energy components. The researchers’ efforts support a greener and more affordable future for fuel cell technology while addressing pressing environmental challenges.

With a significant breakthrough in extending the lifespan of hydrogen fuel cells, researchers at UCLA have made a major step towards making clean, long-haul trucking a reality. Led by Professor Yu Huang, the team has developed a new catalyst design that can push projected fuel cell lifespans to 200,000 hours – nearly seven times the US Department of Energy’s target for 2050.

Hydrogen fuel cells have been considered a promising alternative to batteries for long-haul trucks due to their ability to be refueled as quickly as traditional gasoline. However, one major challenge has been the durability of the catalysts used in these systems. The new design, which embeds ultrafine platinum nanoparticles within protective graphene pockets, addresses this issue by preventing the leaching of alloying elements and maintaining high catalytic activity over time.

The implications of this breakthrough are significant. Heavy-duty trucks account for nearly a quarter of greenhouse gas automobile emissions, making them an ideal entry point for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology. By using hydrogen fuel cells in these vehicles, it’s possible to deliver the same performance as conventional batteries while being significantly lighter and requiring less energy to move.

The researchers’ innovative catalyst design holds great promise for the adoption of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles, which would be a crucial step towards reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency in a sector that accounts for a substantial share of transportation energy use. The team’s findings build on their earlier success in developing a fuel cell catalyst for light-duty vehicles, demonstrating a lifespan of 15,000 hours.

The new study, published in Nature Nanotechnology, was led by UCLA Ph.D. graduates Zeyan Liu and Bosi Peng, both advised by Huang, whose research group specializes in developing nanoscale building blocks for complex materials, such as fuel cell catalysts. Xiaofeng Duan, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UCLA, and Xiaoqing Pan, a professor of materials science and engineering at UC Irvine, are also authors on the paper.

UCLA’s Technology Development Group has filed a patent on the technology, which has significant implications for the development of clean energy solutions in the transportation sector.