{"id":11745,"date":"2024-09-24T13:36:26","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T13:36:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zbt.de\/institute\/departments\/electrolysis\/pem-electrolysis\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T10:01:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:01:54","slug":"pem-electrolysis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/zbt.de\/en\/institute\/departments\/electrolysis\/pem-electrolysis\/","title":{"rendered":"PEM electrolysis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PEM water electrolysis<\/h1>\n

PEM electrolysis is one of several processes for producing hydrogen from water. The ZBT is conducting research into optimising this technology. <\/h4>\n
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PEM water electrolysers<\/strong> are already being marketed by industry with system outputs ranging from one to several hundred megawatts. However, the advantages of PEM electrolysis, such as high efficiency, high current densities and simple system design, are accompanied by disadvantages such as the necessary use of precious materials and the resulting high investment costs.
\n<\/br>To further improve the technology<\/strong>, we are therefore conducting research into materials and components as well as degradation analysis and service life prediction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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PEM water electrolysis (proton exchange membrane) is a process for producing hydrogen through the electrolytic splitting of water. A central component is the proton-conducting membrane<\/strong>, which transports hydrogen ions from the anode to the cathode while electrons flow through an external circuit. At the anode, water is split into oxygen, protons and electrons. At the cathode, protons and electrons react to form hydrogen. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Materials and components<\/h1>\n

The Materials and Components working group in the Electrolysis Department is involved in the development and evaluation of cell components, catalysts and membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEM-WE).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Since iridium catalysts<\/b> are currently the main material used on the anode side for long-term operation of PEM electrolysers and these are very expensive, it is important to make the best possible use of the material in the coating. Therefore, our work focuses on the development and optimisation of catalyst coatings<\/b> for the membrane. <\/p>\n

We have a sonotrode and various rotor-stator mixers at our disposal for the production of dispersions<\/b>. We can coat membranes using an ultrasonic spray process<\/b> or with a squeegee (direct membrane and decal process). In addition to ex-situ analysis using SEM, XRF and confocal microscopy, we are able to carry out various electrochemical investigations on a laboratory scale up to 25 cm\u00b2. <\/p>\n

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Our portfolio:<\/h2>\n
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