HKU's SS-H2 steel promises cheaper seawater hydrogen production

University of Hong Kong researchers have developed SS-H2, a stainless steel that forms a second manganese-based passivation layer on top of the usual chromium oxide film, enabling corrosion resistance at the high voltages used in seawater electrolysis. This could let hydrogen be produced from seawater at lower cost by replacing expensive titanium components, potentially slashing structural material costs by about 40x for large electrolyzer systems. The six-year project, outlined in Materials Today, has led to patents and SS-H2-based wire production, though scaling to industrial use will require further engineering.