Characterising the performance of low loading electrodes for hydrogen technologies

This project is associated with deep understanding of the operation and performance of electrodes for electrochemical devices used in electrolysers, flow batteries, and fuel cells.

These devices will allow the efficient capture of renewable electricity and storage/interconversion as hydrogen (see Royal Society report "Large-scale electricity storage").

Deployment of electrochemical hydrogen systems is growing at a tremendous pace, but in order to achieve the well defined KPIs we need: a 10-fold reduction in catalyst requirements; significant improvements in performance; and increased longevity.

The purpose of this experimental iCASE is the improved performance of these electrodes whilst reducing the catalyst requirements (and thus cost), coupled to improved understanding and ability to model the performance of these systems.

Such improvements can only be achieved through a deeper understanding of performance of the electrochemical interface at which reactants, electrons and ions must be efficiently transported to the catalytic interface. These systems are crucial for the UK and world to reach their net-zero aspirations by 2050.

The topic cuts across a number of themes in the UKRI including the Energy and decarbonisation theme (Solutions to reach net zero), the Manufacturing the future theme and the Physical Sciences theme.

The project is extremely well aligned with the UK's 2022 NMS strategy for which 'the measurement infrastructure needed to support the hydrogen economy as it develops' is a government priority