MICROWAVED wax could be used to power cars, Oxford scientists have discovered.

A research team at Oxford University have helped reveal that hydrocarbon wax, when blasted with microwaves, releases hydrogen gas.

Hydrogen, with zero carbon footprint as a fuel, is often touted as the sustainable future of powering vehicles.

However cheap, safe on-road vehicles have been delayed in coming to market by the challenge of finding a lightweight and safe on-board hydrogen storage material.

Now the scientists in Oxford, Cambridge, Cardiff and Saudi Arabia have shown that hydrocarbon wax releases large amounts of hydrogen when blasted with microwaves.

This discovery of a potential safe storage method, reported in the Nature journal Scientific Reports, could pave the way for widespread release of hydrogen-fuelled cars.

Study co-author professor Peter Edwards from Oxford University said: "This discovery of a safe, efficient hydrogen storage and production material can open the door to the large-scale application of fuel cells in vehicles."

Co-author Dr Tiancun Xiao, a senior research fellow at Oxford University, said: "Our discovery – that hydrogen can be easily and instantly extracted from wax, a benign material that can be manufactured from sustainable processes – is a major step forward.

"Wax will not catch fire or contaminate the environment. It is also safe for drivers and passengers."