Reviewed by Lexie CornerJun 13 2025
A group of Korean scientists has created an innovative green technology that converts plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel with sunlight and water.
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Researchers from Seoul National University’s Institute for Basic Science (IBS) Center for Nanoparticle Research, led by Professors Dae-Hyeong Kim and Taeghwan Hyeon, have developed a photocatalytic system that produces hydrogen from PET bottles. The key innovation involves wrapping the photocatalyst in a hydrogel polymer. This allows it to float on water and stay active even in challenging environmental conditions.
Hydrogen is becoming a more widely considered renewable energy source. However, the most common production method—methane steam reforming—requires high energy input and generates significant greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, photocatalytic hydrogen generation uses sunlight and is cleaner. Still, it often struggles with stability under intense light and chemical stress.
To address these challenges, the IBS team designed a system that places the reaction at the air-water interface. They also stabilized the catalyst within a polymer network. This setup helps prevent typical issues such as reverse reactions, poor gas separation, and catalyst degradation.
The process produces clean hydrogen and breaks down plastics like PET into useful byproducts, including terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.
The key was engineering a structure that works not only in theory but also under practical outdoor conditions. Every detail—from material design to the water-air interface—had to be optimized for real-life usability.
Dr. Wanghee Lee, Study Co-First Author and Postdoctoral Researcher, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The researchers demonstrated that their system remained stable for over two months, even in highly alkaline conditions. It also worked in different real-world water sources, including tap water and seawater.
In tests, the system generated hydrogen from dissolved PET bottle waste using a one-square-meter device placed outdoors in sunlight. Simulations suggest the technology could be scaled up to 10 or even 100 square meters. This points to the potential for cost-effective, carbon-free hydrogen production.
This research opens a new path where plastic waste becomes a valuable energy source. It’s a meaningful step that tackles both environmental pollution and clean energy demand.
Dae-Hyeong Kim, Professor, Institute for Basic Science
Professor Taeghwan Hyeon added, “This work is a rare example of a photocatalytic system that functions reliably in the real world, not just the lab. It could become a key stepping stone toward a hydrogen-powered, carbon-neutral society.”
Journal Reference:
Lee, W. H. et al. (2025). Polymeric stabilization at the gas–liquid interface for durable solar hydrogen production from plastic waste. Nature Nanotechnology. doi.org/10.1038/s41565-025-01957-6