Multi-functional Materials for Hydrogen Technology

Cross-section of asymmetric Matrimid membrane obtained via the so-called "phase inversion"

In the field of materials for hydrogen technology (production from regenerative sources or from natural gas, storage, application in fuel cells) we have identified the following major challenges:

For a cost effective mass production of hydrogen from regenerative or fossile sources, effective separation and processing technologies with least energy cost have to be developed.

For hydrogen storage, the major drawback of light metal hydrides is their high desorption temperature and sluggish reaction kinetics, which lead to long refuelling times and insufficient storage densities.

For PEM fuel cells, an important bottleneck is the low proton conductivity of the currently available membranes at temperatures between 130-160°C and at low humidity, conditions which are relevant for automotive and stationary applications.

Various hurdles must be overcome on the way to consolidate the hydrogen technology. Effective and clean processes of hydrogen production must be considered to assure hydrogen availability. Directly connected to this issue we have focused our activities on three main areas:

Membranes for Hydrogen Production, Separation and Related Processes

Membranes for Fuel Cells

Hydrogen Storage Materials

Hydrogen storage tank based on 8 kg of sodium alanate as storage material, designed and built by GKSS in the frame of the STORHY project

For hydrogen and fuel cell technology an effective and compact form of hydrogen storage is extremely important. Therefore we develop nanocrystalline light metal hydrides and reactive composites with highly reversible hydrogen storage capacity, allowing the fast release and recharging of hydrogen.

We use the technology of high energy ball milling to mix suitable powders and achieve an optimized nanocrystalline structure. In order to get a deeper scientific understanding of the mechanisms enhancing hydrogen dissociation, diffusion, uptake and release, we investigate e.g. the surface reactions of metal/metal hydrides with hydrogen by in-situ spectroscopic methods.

We characterise the hydrogen reaction of nanocrystalline light metal hydrides in dependence of defect density and surface area. We also evaluate novel hydrogen release reactions and their reversibility in view of technical application. Our aim is to design a prototype tank shell for metal hydrides.

These activities were and are supported by the European projects STORHY and NESSHY, by the Marie Curie Research Training networks HYTRAIN and COSY, and especially by the Helmholtz Initiative "FUNCHY: Functional Materials for Mobile Hydrogen Storage". In this initiative the German Helmholtz Centres GKSS and Research Centre Karlsruhe, the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, Germany, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the Empa, Duebendorf, Switzerland, closely work together in improving various candidates for an optimized storage material with a capacity higher than 5 weight% and uptake and release kinetics at temperatures below 150°C and at ambient pressure which are suitable for mobile applications.

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