Hydrogen innovator wins recognition in 2024 Prime Minister's Science Awards
Distinguished Professor Tianyi Ma from RMIT University has received the 2024 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year, announced at the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science on 8 October 2024, in recognition of his pioneering work in renewable energy and carbon capture technologies.
Distinguished Professor Tianyi Ma's research focuses on cost-effective methods for generating clean energy, which could play a key role in supporting Australia’s transition to net zero emissions.
Directly producing hydrogen from a wastewater source has rarely been considered, and using an all-solar-driven floating device is a unique strategy to directly convert the source wastewater into hydrogen for downstream use. Professor Ma is developing a membrane-based technology by integrating a photocatalyst with an efficient solar-thermal film represents an advancement over current photocatalytic systems.
In addition to hydrogen production, Professor Ma has worked on technologies that convert carbon dioxide captured from industrial activities into chemicals found in nature. This process could help capture millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-based industries, offering a scalable solution for reducing atmospheric pollution.
Several pilot projects are now underway in Australia to commercialise his research, which could transform energy production and consumption. These include a solar-powered hydrogen generator designed to float on water surfaces, a lithium-CO2 battery that generates electricity using CO2 emissions from heavy industries, and a CO2 electrolyser that produces methanol from industrial flue gases.
Professor Ma is leading several funded projects aimed at advancing his work in clean energy, including the aforementioned development of the solar-energy-driven modular device for scalable hydrogen production from wastewater, funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Other initiatives include collaborations to produce renewable methanol and ammonia through sustainable electrolysis, supported by ARC-Linkage and Cooperative Research Centres Projects.
The annual Prime Minister's Prizes for Science recognise the achievements of Australian scientists and innovators, and the benefits of their work to Australia and the world. It was announced at the 2024 award ceremony that the 2025 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science will feature a new prize to recognise achievements through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems.
To read more about the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, go to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources website here.
