"Novel Material Enables Water Pollutant Conversion to Hydrogen Gas"
Researchers have developed a material using nickel and cobalt atoms with tailored electronic structures to selectively oxidize urea in an electrochemical reaction, potentially enabling the conversion of urea from water into hydrogen gas. This breakthrough could help address the challenge of urea-rich agricultural runoff and municipal wastewater discharge, which cause environmental harm, while also offering a more energy-efficient and economical method for hydrogen production. The study highlights the importance of tuning valence charges for designing high-performance and selective electrocatalysts, with potential applications in environmental remediation and the water-energy nexus.