60 Second Spotlight on Alfredo Zafra, University of Oxford
Ahead of the Hydrogen Adoption Across Industries seminar on 30 September at Cranfield University, we caught up with Alfredo Zafra to hear his thoughts on the topic.
Please briefly explain your role.
I’m a postdoctoral researcher and facility manager at the University of Oxford. Within the Mechanics of Materials Lab, I run the Hydrogen Embrittlement and Stress Corrosion Cracking Laboratory. With over a decade of experience in hydrogen embrittlement research, my work focuses on developing hydrogen-resistant materials using advanced manufacturing techniques, and I specialise in characterising hydrogen–material interactions through thermal desorption spectroscopy, as well as electrochemical and gas permeation methods.
How do you see hydrogen transforming the way we think about energy and engineering in the next decade?
Hydrogen has the potential to reshape entire sectors—from steelmaking and aviation to domestic heating—enabling deep decarbonisation where electrification isn’t viable. This transformation will require us to rethink materials design, safety standards, and infrastructure engineering from the ground up.
What do you see as the biggest challenge in hydrogen adoption?
The biggest challenge is ensuring that materials in hydrogen systems can operate safely and reliably over time. Hydrogen embrittlement poses a serious threat to pipelines, pressure vessels, and other structural components, particularly in high-strength steels and advanced alloys.
What key innovations are still needed to make hydrogen adoption more viable?
We need new hydrogen-tolerant alloys and surface treatments, along with faster, more reliable testing methods. Just as crucial are scalable, defect-tolerant manufacturing techniques that ensure components like pipelines and storage vessels remain safe and reliable, even with real-world imperfections. These innovations are essential to reduce costs and enable the secure, large-scale deployment of hydrogen infrastructure.
What is the most exciting development or trend in your area of interest in relation to hydrogen?
We’re seeing rapid advances in our ability to manipulate microstructures at the micro and nanoscales to enhance hydrogen resistance. Combining these approaches with state-of-the-art characterisation techniques is revealing entirely new pathways for designing robust, embrittlement-resistant materials.
How important is collaboration between academia and industry in advancing hydrogen technology?
It’s absolutely vital. Industry brings real-world challenges and deployment needs, while academia provides the mechanistic understanding and novel solutions. Strong collaborations—such as those we have with National Gas, Airbus, and ArcelorMittal—are essential to accelerate innovation and ensure it meets industrial requirements.
Why is it important for engineers to attend this seminar?
This seminar brings together key players tackling one of the most pressing materials challenges in the hydrogen transition. Engineers will gain insight into emerging technologies, research breakthroughs, and how to bridge the gap between lab-scale innovation and industrial application.