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A team from the University of Sydney has created a method to extract hydrogen from seawater using liquid gallium and sunlight, potentially revolutionizing energy transition by reducing costs and complexity in hydrogen production. The technique, published in Nature Communications, can operate without electricity or purified water, allowing for scalability in remote and coastal areas.

Liquid gallium, which melts just above room temperature, reacts with water under light to release hydrogen while oxidizing to galliumoxyhydroxide. This process can achieve 12.9% efficiency and is circular, enabling gallium to be reused.

Ongoing work includes testing a mid-scale reactor, which could benefit countries like Australia and parts of Africa and Southeast Asia, as well as the Netherlands due to its proximity to the North Sea. Hydrogen is critical for various sectors, including transport, energy storage, and agriculture, and this method could lead to a practical and sustainable route for its production.