Lasers make hydrogen from ammonia and water

Laser pulses that can shred ammonia molecules dissolved in water may offer a way to generate hydrogen gas without using heat, pressure, or catalysts ( J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c13459 ). The proof-of-principle work by researchers at Sun Yat-sen University demonstrates an unusual way to exploit ammonia as a carrier for green hydrogen , an idea that is quickly gaining traction in many industries. "Green" hydrogen is produced by electrolyzing water with renewable electricity , and it can be used to decarbonize various industrial processes, to power fuel cells in vehicles, and even as a means to store excess renewable energy. Many companies are turning to ammonia as an easier way to ship hydrogen. Ammonia is much easier to liquefy, and it is richly packed with hydrogen atoms, which can be liberated by ammonia decomposition reactions. Unfortunately, the most common ammonia decomposition method involves thermal crackers that operate