Researchers have developed a new method to produce clean hydrogen using liquid metal and light, potentially making green hydrogen cheaper and easier to scale.
The breakthrough centers around gallium, a metal that melts at near body temperature and exhibits unusual chemical behavior. When tiny droplets of gallium are suspended in water and exposed to sunlight, a chemical reaction occurs on their surface. This reaction splits water molecules and releases hydrogen gas without requiring electricity, unlike conventional electrolysis methods, according to SciTechDaily.
One of the most important advantages of this process is that it works with seawater. Most existing green hydrogen systems require highly purified water, which adds cost and complexity. The ability to use seawater means hydrogen production facilities could be located near oceans, industrial ports, and coastal regions without straining freshwater supplies.
The system achieved a hydrogen production efficiency of 12.9 percent in early tests. Researchers consider this competitive for a first demonstration, noting that solar panel technology started with similarly low efficiencies before improving dramatically over time.
The process is also circular and reusable. When gallium reacts with water, it forms gallium oxyhydroxide while releasing hydrogen. This compound can then be converted back into gallium and reused repeatedly, reducing material waste and improving long term sustainability.
Unlike traditional hydrogen production, which often depends on fossil fuels or energy intensive systems, this approach uses sunlight as its primary energy source. This makes it a promising candidate for producing truly green hydrogen, which generates only water when used as fuel.
Hydrogen is widely considered a critical future energy carrier. It can power industrial processes, transportation, and energy storage while producing no carbon emissions. However, producing hydrogen cleanly and efficiently has remained one of the biggest challenges in scaling a hydrogen economy.
If researchers can improve efficiency and scale the technology successfully, liquid metal based hydrogen production could become a key tool in global clean energy systems, especially in regions with abundant sunlight and access to seawater.
The study has been published here.
