From left: Professor Won-Young Lee of Sungkyunkwan University’s School of Mechanical Engineering, Master Joong-Duk Park of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, and Ph.D. candidates Se-Hee Bang · Hyeon-Sik Yoo. Photo by Sungkyunkwan University.
A South Korean research team has successfully improved both the performance and durability of electrolysis cells, devices that produce the clean energy source ‘green hydrogen’ by splitting water with electricity.
Sungkyunkwan University announced on the 13th that a team led by Professor Won-Young Lee from the School of Mechanical Engineering, in a joint industry-academia study with Samsung Electro-Mechanics’ Corporate R&D Center, has proposed a new design for high-performance Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOEC). The research findings were published in *ACS Nano* in February and featured as the cover article for the international journal *Advanced Functional Materials* in January.
Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells produce hydrogen by splitting steam with electricity at high temperatures above 700°C. A major issue is that prolonged operation at these temperatures causes microscopic particles inside the cell to agglomerate or layers to delaminate, leading to a sharp decline in performance.
The research team presented two design strategies that can be directly applied in industrial settings.
First, using powder-based Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), they coated the surface of catalyst particles on the fuel electrode, where hydrogen is produced, with a thin film just a few nanometers (nm, 1 nm is one-billionth of a meter) thick. This stabilized the catalyst particles, preventing them from agglomerating at high temperatures. The deposited structure also enhanced catalytic activity, nearly doubling hydrogen production efficiency compared to existing methods.
Second, they formed a nano-coating layer approximately 50 nm thick at the interface where the air electrode, where the byproduct oxygen is generated, meets the electrolyte. They used Electrostatic Spray Deposition (ESD), a method that sprays fine particles using static electricity, to prevent delamination between the layers inside the cell. A key advantage of this method is that it can be performed at atmospheric pressure, making it suitable for application in large-scale factories.
The team explained, “We have established a practical foundation for simultaneously solving the lifespan issues and manufacturing difficulties that have hindered the commercialization of next-generation hydrogen production devices.”
Professor Lee stated, “This is a case where we have overcome the challenges of electrode structural changes and interfacial delamination—the biggest hurdles to the commercialization of SOECs—through industry-academia collaboration. By integrating nanotechnology into actual manufacturing processes, we have presented a practical platform that can accelerate the advent of the hydrogen energy era.”
Master Joong-Duk Park of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, who participated in the research, said, “We have confirmed the potential of this manufacturing technology to improve the performance and durability of SOECs. We plan to continue our collaboration to enhance the industrial applicability of this technology.”
– doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202525596
– doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c19038
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