Green hydrogen thanks to nickel-free ferritic steels for bipolar plates in water electrolysers
The Chair of Materials and Surface Technology is conducting research into hydrogen technologies with the Fraunhofer Institute for Forming Technology (IWU Chemnitz) in a joint project that was successfully funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The ERDF project „Ferriko-El“ aims to qualify low-cost, nickel-free ferritic stainless steels for the production of bipolar plates and subsequent use in water electrolysers under corresponding corrosive media. Compared to the austenitic stainless steels frequently used for bipolar plates, which have nickel contents of over 12 %, ferritic stainless steels do not contain nickel, but much cheaper chromium with a content of up to 28 %. However, the lack of nickel leads to a reduction in formability and corrosion resistance. However, both are relevant properties for the moulding of the sometimes delicate channel structure of the bipolar plate as well as for later use in the water electrolyser in corrosive media and under high electrical voltages.
IWU and WOT are meeting this challenge with their combined complementary expertise. Together, they are researching optimised forming strategies and tools with simulation support, as well as increasing corrosion protection through targeted heat treatment and coating routes, in order to exploit the great potential that ferritic stainless steels offer for increasing the economic efficiency of electrolysers due to their very low material costs and the high availability of alloying elements. Successful implementation of the research project can significantly reduce the costs of stationary electrolysers and make them much more attractive as energy storage devices, e.g. for solar energy in private households, thus making a direct contribution to achieving the climate targets set by the federal government while at the same time strengthening the economic and innovative power of Saxony's industry.
5.3.2026 – Projects of the professorship ( lisa.winter@mb… )
