Solar Powered Hydrogen Production from Plastic Waste

Researchers at the University of Adelaide are developing a method called solar-driven photoreforming to convert plastic waste into hydrogen fuel and industrial chemicals. By using light-sensitive photocatalysts, the process breaks down the carbon and hydrogen chains in plastics at lower temperatures than traditional methods. While the technology has shown stability in 100 hour trials, scaling to industrial levels requires better plastic sorting and more durable catalysts. The goal is to create a low carbon energy source while simultaneously reducing global plastic pollution.