A recent study published in 'Angewandte Chemie' explored the use of clathrates as catalysts for electrolytic hydrogen production, showcasing impressive results. Clathrates, such as Ba8Ni6Ge40, were found to outperform nickel-based catalysts in efficiency and robustness. The team led by Dr. Prashanth Menezes investigated the structural transformations of clathrates during the catalytic process, leading to increased contact with active catalytic centers and enhanced performance. These findings are crucial for speeding up hydrogen production and developing more efficient catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. The Ba₈Ni₆Ge₄₀ clathrates exhibited high efficiency and stability in industrial electrolysis conditions. Through a combination of experiments at universities and BESSY II, the team discovered that the structural transformation of clathrates under an electric field creates porous nanolayers of catalytically active nickel, maximizing surface area and contact with the electrolyte. Dr. Niklas Hausmann highlighted the significance of this transformation, stating that the clathrates work exceptionally well as OER catalysts. The study suggests that other transition metal clathrates could also be promising candidates for electrocatalysts, opening doors to innovative materials in hydrogen production and beyond.