A team of researchers at the University of Houston has developed a new way to produce pure oxygen from cheap, dirty leftovers. The process uses hexagonal manganites, which are a type of mineral that is found in abundance in the Earth's crust.

The researchers found that when hexagonal manganites are heated to a high temperature, they release pure oxygen. This oxygen can then be used to power fuel cells, which are a type of clean energy technology that produces electricity without emitting any pollutants.

The new process is a significant breakthrough, because it offers a way to produce pure oxygen on an industrial scale. This could lead to a number of new applications for fuel cells, including powering cars, trucks, and other vehicles.

The researchers are currently working on scaling up the process so that it can be used to produce oxygen on a commercial scale. They believe that the new process could have a major impact on the clean energy industry.

Here are some of the key findings of the study:

* Hexagonal manganites are a promising material for the production of pure oxygen.

* The new process can produce pure oxygen on an industrial scale.

* The new process could lead to a number of new applications for fuel cells.

* The new process is a significant breakthrough in the field of clean energy.

The study was published in the journal Nature Materials.