Breakthrough method produces hydrogen without scarce, costly platinum

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed a novel method to produce hydrogen gas efficiently and sustainably without relying on the scarce and costly metal platinum. Their approach uses sunlight, water, and electrically conductive plastic nanoparticles—specifically conjugated polymers—that have been molecularly engineered to be more water-compatible and hydrophilic. These nanoparticles act as photocatalysts, absorbing light and facilitating hydrogen production through photocatalysis, with performance that can surpass traditional platinum-based systems at a significantly lower cost. A key innovation lies in the advanced materials design that allows the plastic particles to interact effectively with water and sunlight, overcoming previous limitations of conjugated polymers. In laboratory tests, hydrogen bubbles are visibly produced, demonstrating the process's efficiency. Currently, the system requires vitamin C as a sacrificial antioxidant to maintain the reaction, but the research team aims to achieve overall water splitting—producing hydrogen and oxygen simultaneously—using only sunlight and water without additives. This breakthrough represents an important step toward scalable, environmentally friendly