Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an innovative method to accelerate hydrogen production from aluminium in seawater. By adding small amounts of imidazole, the aluminium-water reaction can be sped up, leading to faster hydrogen generation. The team, led by MIT PhD student Aly Kombargi, has also found a way to recover and reuse over 90% of the costly gallium-indium metal alloy typically used in this process. The initial aim of this research was to create a sustainable and efficient way of producing hydrogen fuel from aluminium, particularly for powering underwater vehicles. By disrupting the oxide layer on aluminium with a gallium-indium alloy, the researchers were able to initiate the aluminium-water reaction effectively. However, the high costs of gallium and indium prompted the team to seek methods for recovering the alloy post-reaction. Through experimentation, the researchers discovered that using seawater as an ionic solution could prevent de-alloying of gallium-indium during the reaction, enabling its recovery. The addition of imidazole significantly improved recovery ratios and reaction rates, with 90% mass recovery of the alloy achieved within 10 minutes. This breakthrough was attributed to the inhibitive effect of free nitrogen atoms bonding to the metals' surface, which aided in corrosion prevention and increased reaction efficiency. The team's use of recycled aluminium, like shredded soda cans, is part of their ongoing efforts to reduce costs and carbon emissions associated with hydrogen production. The innovative approach has garnered praise for its sustainability and potential impact on decarbonization efforts. Going forward, the researchers are focusing on scalability and further cost reduction to make the process even more environmentally friendly and economically viable.