A breakthrough that could end our dependence on fossil fuels

Until now, scientists have used precious metals like platinum for the electrodes.  But the prohibitive cost  limits the technology’s application in large-scale industrial processes. 

Now, a team has found a cheaper alternative: nickel metal coated with nickel oxide and attached to carbon nanotubes. 

Using the nickel electrodes, the team made a water splitter that runs on an ordinary 1.5-volt battery.