{"id":6822,"date":"2023-05-01T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prod.zbt.compositas.io\/projects\/neue-materialien-fuer-elektrolyse-finden-nrw-foerdert-kooperationsplattform-mat4hy\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T11:03:01","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T11:03:01","slug":"mat4hy","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/zbt.de\/en\/projects\/mat4hy\/","title":{"rendered":"MAT4HY cooperation platform"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Finding new materials for electrolysis: State of North Rhine-Westphalia promotes MAT4HY cooperation platform<\/h1>\n
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MAT4HY.NRW brings together research institutes and industrial partners to develop cost-effective materials for the mass production of hydrogen. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is funding the project, in which ZBT is also involved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Ruhr region is experiencing a structural change from coal to hydrogen. However, to\u00a0produce hydrogen<\/b>\u00a0on a large scale through electrolysis,\u00a0catalysts<\/b>\u00a0containing precious metals are currently still required. Knowledge and experience to develop the necessary new, cost-effective materials are concentrated in the region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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The aim of the\u00a0Materials for Future Hydrogen Technologies platform<\/b>, MAT4HY.NRW for short, is therefore to develop electrochemically active materials that are suitable for\u00a0large-scale industrial use<\/b>\u00a0due to their good availability. By replacing expensive precious metal-based catalysts, the hydrogen production needed for the\u00a0energy transition\u00a0<\/b>through electrolysis is to be made scalable for large scales.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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From the idea to the assembly line<\/h2>\n

For the first time, MAT4HY.NRW will map and network the\u00a0entire value chain of water electrolysis<\/b>: From the theoretical calculations that point to suitable material combinations to the assembly line readiness of new materials and technologies. Since the platform integrates relevant industry partners, material-specific or process engineering challenges for companies are considered from the very beginning.<\/p>\n

The network also wants to facilitate\u00a0joint teaching events<\/b>, further education formats and utilisation strategies for all aspects of materials research for hydrogen production in order to firmly anchor corresponding competences in the region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Funding decision handed over<\/h2>\n

The state of North Rhine-Westphalia is funding the project. NRW Science Minister Ina Brandes presented Prof. Dr. Ulf-Peter Apfel of the Ruhr University Bochum with the funding notification.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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ZBT involved in project<\/h2>\n
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The consortium leader is the\u00a0Ruhr University Bochum<\/a>. In addition, the\u00a0University of Duisburg-Essen<\/a>\u00a0(UDE) and the\u00a0Westf\u00e4lische Hochschule<\/a>, University of Applied Sciences as well as the research institutes\u00a0ZBT\u00a0and\u00a0IUTA<\/a>\u00a0and some members of the\u00a0CENIDE<\/a>\u00a0– Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen are significantly involved in the cooperation platform.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Image Collection<\/h4>\n
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\n \n \"NRW\n <\/a>\n NRW Science Minister Ina Brandes presents Prof. Ulf-Peter Apfel from the Ruhr University Bochum with the funding notification for the MAT4HY.NRW project. (Photo: MKW)\n\n<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n