Norwegian researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking new membrane technology for hydrogen fuel cells.
“A new membrane technology – so light and thin that it makes an A4 sheet of paper feel like thick cardboard – has been created in the hydrogen laboratory,” said the researchers in a press release.
This innovation, emerging from the hydrogen laboratory at SINTEF, promises to drastically reduce the cost and environmental impact of fuel cells and accelerate their competitiveness with electric motors.
Slimming down two critical components
The latest development centers on the ability to significantly slim down two critical components of fuel cells: the membrane and the catalyst.
“The membrane and the catalyst account for up to 41 percent of the total cost of fuel cells. That is why researchers at SINTEF chose to look at how these two components could be reduced,” added the press release.
The new membrane prototype measures a mere 10 micrometers (10μm) thick, a 33 percent reduction from the current standard of 15 micrometers (15μm).
“The membranes in today’s fuel cells are 15 μm (micrometres) thick. Our prototype measures just 10 μm. To put that into perspective, a standard A4 sheet has a thickness of 100 μm,” said Patrick Fortin, a researcher at SINTEF.
No compromise with performance
Researchers discovered that this reduction in thickness did not compromise performance, as the effectiveness was primarily determined by interfacial resistance rather than the bulk resistance of the membrane below 15 micrometers.
This breakthrough alone can cut membrane costs by up to 20 percent and reduce the content of harmful fluorinated polymers (PFAS) by 33 percent. PFAS are a group of substances considered an increasing chemical risk by the EU due to their environmental and health implications.
“During the tests, we noticed that the bulk resistance became negligible below 15 μm and that the performance was determined solely by the interfacial resistance, which was the same for both membranes,” explains Patrick Fortin, a researcher at SINTEF.
In addition to the membrane advancements, the research team achieved a remarkable 62.5 percent reduction in platinum content within the catalyst, compared to state-of-the-art fuel cells. Platinum is a rare, expensive mineral, and its extraction is concentrated outside Europe, leading the EU to categorize it as a critical raw material.
“By reducing the amount of platinum in the fuel cell, we’re not only helping to reduce costs, we’re also taking into account the global challenges regarding the supply of important raw materials and sustainability,” Fortin stated.
The researchers found an optimal balance in arranging the innumerable microscopic platinum reactor particles, which allows for sufficient power generation with a drastically reduced material requirement.
Road to sustainable transport
This dual-pronged approach to material reduction holds immense potential for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in heavy transport, the maritime sector, and in the longer term, aviation.
While hydrogen fuel cells are highly efficient and emit only water vapor, their high cost has been a significant barrier to widespread adoption. This new technology aims to dismantle that barrier.
“If the innovations are put into practice, our research will contribute to making future clean energy technologies – like powerful PEM fuel cells – cheaper and more sustainable,” concluded Fortin.
