Polymer membrane materials enabling ionic transport
Our group develops new proton and hydroxide conducting polymers for fuel cell and electrolyser applications. Materials for both binder as well as membrane applications are targeted. Below are lists of functional polymers made in our group and funded projects.Proton conducting polymers
Our group is designing sulfonic acid-functionalised aromatic polymers for proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis (WE).[1]Polymers for anion exchange membrane water electrolysers
WE based on anion exchange membranes (AEM) promises to lower the costs of existing WE technologies and thus of green hydrogen production. In recent years, the scientific community has witnessed tremendous development of diverse base-stable, anion-conducting polymer membrane materials.[2] The challenge in the design of new polymeric membrane materials with improved and complete property profiles lies in the simultaneous consideration of various aspects, including simple and scalable synthetic transformations, hydrolytic, (electro-)chemical and mechanical stability and performance. Key characteristics of binder polymers and membrane materials are often much different from each other and require targeted tailoring of chemical structure according to known structure-function relationships. For example, while ionic conductivity and stability are most critical for membrane polymers, binders that act as polymeric glue for catalyst particles within a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) additionally require a high level of gas permeation. The group´s work aims at understanding AEM materials from a molecular viewpoint. We combine synthetic expertise with in-depth analytical characterization to gain a comprehensive picture of the limiting factors of binder[3] and membrane materials[4] for AEM electrolyser applications.Projects
Fluorine-Free Water electrolysis Development (FastForward FFWD)
Project FFWD aims at making PEM water electrolysis more efficient, less capital intensive and more environmentally benign. New hydrocarbon polymers will be prepared that are fluorine-free and inherently more gas tight to allow for reduced membrane thickness and electrolyser operation at higher temperatures. This advantage can result in higher efficiency of hydrogen evolution and thus lower capital expenditures. The FFWD collaborative network between German and French partners is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).
Funding period
01.11.2024 – 31.10.2027 Link to website
01.11.2024 – 31.10.2027 Link to website
KOSMOS
KOSMOS aims at lowering the costs of green hydrogen production by developing simple, fluorine-free and scalable binder polymers for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis, as well as nickel-based cathode catalysts. Gas-permeable binder polymers facilitate diffusion of the gaseous products oxygen and hydrogen away from the electrodes. Using nickel-based catalysts as new cathode materials will further lower the costs. Stable, efficient and economic membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs) will be prepared, optimized and validated for AEMWE. KOSMOS is funded by the Free State of Saxony and the European Union.
Funding period
28.01.2025 – 30.06.2027
28.01.2025 – 30.06.2027
AEMset
The overarching goals of AEMset are to realize efficient, cost-economic and stable AEM water electrolysis on industrially relevant cell area and low gas cross-over. Clarifying degradation mechanisms and limiting factors of membranes and binders are a main focus that serve to better tailor these polymeric materials with distinctly different property profiles.
Funding period
01.09.2025 – 31.08.2028
01.09.2025 – 31.08.2028
References