Prime accolade for chemical engineer

Global leader in sustainable hydrogen production Professor Yao Zheng, from the University of Adelaide's School of Chemical Engineering, has been awarded the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year at the Prime Minister's 2025 Prizes for Science event in Canberra.

Professor Zheng has been recognised for his groundbreaking work to produce clean hydrogen directly from seawater.

“To receive the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year is an incredible honour," says Professor Zheng.

"This achievement is the result of the efforts of many people. In the past 15 years I have also received great mentorship, and I want to transfer this knowledge to the next generation of scientists.”

While hydrogen is a clean energy source that could help replace fossil fuel, most production methods via electrolysis require large volumes of purified water. Professor Zheng’s breakthrough eliminates the need for fresh water, using Australia’s plentiful sea water as an alternative source.

"Over the past hundred years, people have known how to produce hydrogen from water. But the water used in the process had to be highly purified," says Professor Zheng.

“Our mission is to use Australian's sunlight and seawater resources to generate abundant green energy and create a sustainable future for society. The ocean gave Earth its first life and now it has the potential to become a nearly infinite energy source for our future.

“As we move towards a net-zero emissions target by 2050, sustainable hydrogen production is emerging as a critical pillar in our transition. We hope our discovery can accelerate the expansion of the green hydrogen industry in Australia."

In 2024, Professor Zheng’s team achieved a world-first milestone when they demonstrated Australia’s first seawater electrolyser at pilot scale, producing kilograms of ultrapure hydrogen per day.

“I congratulate Professor Zheng for being named as the recipient of the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year at the 2025 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science event,” says Professor Peter Høj AC, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Adelaide.

“Professor Zheng’s world-class research is a shining example of the University of Adelaide’s commitment to finding solutions to society’s challenges and augers well for delivery of strong outcomes against one of the new Adelaide University’s key research pillars, namely, to pursue a sustainable energy transition.

“This award adds to Professor Zheng’s impressive list of achievements and funding which underlines the impact of his work.”

Professor Anton Middelberg FTSE FNAI, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Adelaide also congratulated Professor Zheng on his achievement.

"Professor Zheng’s body of research exemplifies how deep scientific innovation can deliver tangible, scalable solutions for global energy challenges," says Professor Middelberg.

“This research stands to revolutionise the energy sector, empowering Australia to harness its abundant renewable resources and convert them into valuable, low-carbon products more efficiently and economically than ever before.

“Professor Zheng’s research bridges the gap between basic science and real-world impact, fostering collaborations with industry and contributing to the development of greener, more efficient industrial processes.”