Iron and UV light unlock cheap hydrogen from alcohols
Scientists at Kyushu University discovered that mixing methanol with iron ions and sodium hydroxide and then exposing the mixture to UV light triggers a rapid release of hydrogen—921 mmol per hour per gram of catalyst—comparable to costly modern catalysts. The approach works with other alcohols and biomass feeds, offering a cheap, abundant iron-based route to sustainable hydrogen production. Although the reaction mechanism isn’t fully understood yet, the simple setup could be replicated widely and help decouple hydrogen generation from fossil fuels; researchers plan to optimize the process moving forward.
