In a bid to move towards sustainable energy, a team of researchers at the University of Twente, led by Dr Marco Altomare, has made strides in efficient hydrogen production using less precious metals. The researchers have successfully demonstrated a novel method to decrease the reliance on costly and rare materials like platinum in green hydrogen production without compromising performance. The study, published in the Advanced Functional Materials journal, showcases the potential of reducing the use of precious metal catalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysers and fuel cells. The importance of green hydrogen in the energy transition is highlighted, emphasizing the need for compact and resilient technologies for a large-scale hydrogen economy. The U.S. Department of Energy's objective to enhance performance while reducing precious metal usage sets a challenging target for the scientific and technological community. The team's approach, combining physical vapour deposition and solid-state dewetting, aims to create electrodes with significantly lower precious metal content while maintaining hydrogen generation efficiency. Dr Altomare and his team are now focused on further reducing noble metal loadings to less than 0.5 mg/cm2, a development that could revolutionize green hydrogen production. The method's scalability and safety, coupled with the potential for industrial application, make it a promising avenue for sustainable energy. The research team's dedication to testing the electrodes in real-world conditions reflects their commitment to advancing green hydrogen technology. This breakthrough not only addresses the challenges posed by expensive catalysts but also paves the way for a more sustainable and efficient future in hydrogen production.