Researchers have discovered a way to use an alloy of aluminium and gallium to generate hydrogen from water. The new process could be used to generate hydrogen on the fly in cars with hydrogen burning engines, which would remove the need to transport, or store, large quantities of highly flammable hydrogen.

The reaction produces hydrogen, aluminium oxide, and gallium. Although the aluminium would oxidize and create some hydrogen on its own the gallium alloy is an important breakthrough. The gallium prevents the aluminium oxide from forming a layer on the outside of the aluminium, effectively sealing it from the rest of the water. Thanks to the gallium all the aluminium can be oxidized to create hydrogen.

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