Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHTElectrolysers and fuel cells are key technologies for the climate-neutral transformation of our energy system. They enable the production of green hydrogen from renewable energy, the storage of surplus energy, the efficient conversion of hydrogen into electricity and the reduction of dependence on fossil fuels. However, the costs for the production of electrolysers and fuel cells are still very high – due to both expensive materials and the complex construction of the stacks.
Industrialisierung der Herstellung von Elektrolyseuren und Brennstoffzellen
© Fraunhofer UMSICHT/Mike Henning
Industrialization of electrolysers and fuel cells
Solutions and services from Fraunhofer UMSICHT: Development of new systems and materials for electrolysers and fuel cells
This is where Fraunhofer UMSICHT comes in: We are working on new materials and systems for electrolysers and fuel cells to enable the industrialization of production. From catalysts and membranes to electrodes, we have all stack components in our sights. Specifically, our services include
- Electro-catalyst development for hydrogen and co-electrolysis as well as scale-up
- Bipolar plates/foils and electrode development
- Sealing-free stack concepts
- High-pressure electrocatalysis
- Development, production and testing of (electro)catalysts, cells and stacks
- Development of novel electro-organic and bioelectrochemical reactions
- Analysis and characterization of catalysts, electrodes, bipolar plates/foils, cells and membranes
- Process development as well as construction and operation of pilot plants (batch and flow-through operation)
- Technology evaluation, system analysis and sustainability assessment
Unique selling point: Green hydrogen from a single source
What makes us special: We supply green hydrogen from a single source and offer stack development from the material to the complete system on a demonstration scale. This includes the production of new catalysts containing precious metals as well as precious metal-free catalysts and the retrofitting of existing catalyst systems. In addition, we develop bipolar plates and electrodes tailored to the respective application. We rely on conductive thermoplastic-based foils that are produced cost-effectively in a continuous roll-to-roll process and enable stacks to be welded and built without seals.
Selected publications
- Accelerating CO2 electrochemical conversion towards industrial implementation
- Assessing the influence of supercritical carbon dioxide on the electrochemical reduction to formic acid using carbon-supported copper catalysts
- Bio-inspired design: Bulk iron-nickel sulfide allows for efficient solvent-dependent CO2 reduction
- Crossing the valley of death. From fundamental to applied research in electrolysis
- Determining materials for energy conversion across scales
- Developing electrochemical hydrogenation towards industrial application
- Electrochemical CO2 reduction: Tailoring catalyst layers in gas diffusion electrodes
- Hidden parameters for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction in zero-gap electrolyzers
- Influence of the Fe: Ni ratio and reaction temperature on the efficiency of (FexNi1-x)9S8 electrocatalysts applied in the hydrogen evolution reaction
- Opening the pathway towards a scalable electrochemical semi-hydrogenation of alkynols via earth-abundant metal chalcogenides
- Pentlandite rocks as highly efficient, sustainable and stable electrocatalysts for H2 generation
- Pentlandite rocks as sustainable and stable efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen generation
- Pushing the Ag-loading of CO2 electrolyzers to the minimum via molecularly tuned environments
- Tailored electrodes for efficient electrochemical-biomethanogenic CO 2 reduction using wastewater-derived catholytes
- Trimetallic pentlandites (Fe,Co,Ni)9S8 for the electrocatalytical HER in acidic media
How to work with us
Direct order
You see a need for research or development or have become aware of a promising Fraunhofer technology: For example, your company wants to bring a material or product innovation to the market, have an internal production process evaluated and improved or respond to an anticipated market demand as quickly as possible. Then it makes sense to commission our institute directly with the development of solutions for your challenge. Together, we will clarify the framework conditions for how we can successfully advance your company with our expertise and infrastructure. The size of your company is irrelevant: our teams support small companies just as professionally with research and development services as clients from SMEs or companies that are listed on the stock exchange.
Joint project
Several partners along a value chain work together on a solution – usually within the framework of public funding. We can build on a large network from industry, research, society and the Fraunhofer Institutes. We are experienced both in the selection of funding programs and in project applications, contribute innovative ideas to the process and then shape the transfer to the market together with you and other partners.
FAQ
As with every new collaboration, things are unclear at the beginning: How does a collaboration with Fraunhofer actually work and can Fraunhofer help me at all? Will Fraunhofer charge my company for its research and development work and who actually owns the results of the collaboration? The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has already compiled some general answers to Frequently Asked Questions. However, our projects are as individual as your technological challenges. Therefore, if you have any questions, please contact us!
Further information
Catalysts for industrial use
Electrically conductive polymers
Material and component development for electrolysis processes
"We want to drive forward decarbonization in the transport sector and promote innovation in methanol production": Dr.-Ing. Norman Kienzle on the "Leuna 100" project
to the interview from 26.01.2024
Inauguration of the world’s first pilot plant for the cost-efficient production of green methanol
to the press release from 20.11.2023
From basic research to industrial application: Why marketable concepts of catalysts, electrodes and cells are still in short supply – and what needs to change