Can Smoother Surfaces Prevent Hydrogen Embrittlement?

Hydrogen is a promising fuel for developing sustainable industrial processes, but its use is hindered by hydrogen embrittlement—a phenomenon that weakens metals and can cause sudden failure. Now, researchers from Japan have provided the first experimental evidence linking surface roughness to atomic-scale defects caused by hydrogen in iron. Using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, they showed that rougher surfaces result in greater accumulation of defects, offering new insights into designing hydrogen-resistant materials through precision surface engineering.