The global transition to sustainable energy systems is accelerating, driven by the urgent need to mitigate climate change and achieve long-term energy security. Central to this effort is the development of green materials and technologies that enable clean, efficient hydrogen production and storage. Advances in renewable energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal and bioenergy are making green hydrogen increasingly viable, while innovations in storage materials and energy conversion devices support system stability and integration. At the same time, circular economy principles and techno-economic assessments are guiding the adoption of eco-friendly, scalable solutions. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in achieving cost-effectiveness, efficient resource utilization, and large-scale deployment. This Research Topic seeks to highlight breakthroughs and emerging strategies that collectively advance the future of sustainable hydrogen technologies and contribute to a resilient, low-carbon energy economy.
This collection aims to spotlight transformative innovations in green materials for hydrogen production and storage, with a focus on the following key themes:
• Sustainable, Low-Carbon Energy Systems: emphasizing green hydrogen’s critical role in achieving global energy transitions and climate goals. • Advancing Hydrogen Production Technologies: exploring electrochemical, photocatalytic, thermochemical, and biological routes using renewable feedstocks to enable scalable, eco-friendly hydrogen generation. • Designing Efficient Electrocatalysts and Reactors: developing novel materials and engineering strategies to improve efficiency, durability, and affordability of water splitting and hydrogen evolution systems. • Innovating Hydrogen Storage Solutions and investigating advanced storage materials—such as metal hydrides, porous frameworks, and nanostructures—to enhance storage capacity, safety, and reversibility. • Integrating Hydrogen into Energy Conversion Devices: highlighting progress in fuel cells and related systems for efficient hydrogen utilization across industrial, transport, and power sectors. • Applying Circular Economy Principles: promoting recyclable materials, lifecycle optimization, and sustainable manufacturing in hydrogen technologies. • Evaluating Techno-Economic and Environmental Aspects: assessing the viability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact of green hydrogen systems within existing energy frameworks. • Encouraging Multidisciplinary Collaboration: bridging materials science, engineering, policy, and environmental perspectives to accelerate innovation and deployment
The Research Topic collection invites high-quality original research, reviews, and perspectives that explore breakthroughs in green hydrogen technologies. We welcome contributions focused on: • Electrochemical, photocatalytic, thermochemical, and biological hydrogen production • Advanced electrocatalysts • Hydrogen storage materials (e.g., hydrides, porous frameworks, nanostructures) • Next-generation fuel cells.
Studies addressing system integration, process optimization, and renewable energy coupling are strongly encouraged. Submissions that incorporate lifecycle analysis, techno-economic evaluation, and circular economy principles in hydrogen technologies are particularly relevant.
We also invite interdisciplinary research that links material innovation with environmental sustainability, policy frameworks, and scalable deployment. This collection aims to provide a platform for knowledge exchange across materials science, energy engineering, and environmental policy, driving progress toward a resilient, low-carbon hydrogen economy.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Opinion
Original Research
Perspective
Policy and Practice Reviews
Policy Brief
Review
Technology and Code
Keywords: Green Materials, Energy Conversion, Green Hydrogen Production, Fuel Cells, Energy Economy, Circular Economy
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
