Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS
Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS

Electrolysis and fuel cells

Know How

  • Cross-scale material and microstructure analysis, e.g. for analyzing defect and degradation or loss mechanics (MEA/CCM, PTL, BPP)
  • New methods for quality control in production and operation
  • Support in the development and optimization of materials and processes

Selected topics

  • Projection tests for metal ions from BoP components
  • Mechanical and chemical testing of sealing materials
  • Mapping of proton conductivity and contact resistance
  • Identification of material gradients and diffusion of elements
  • Catalyst degradation, Ostwald ripening
  • Identification of impurities
  • 3D analysis of MEA/CCM/catalyst layers

Research infrastructure

  • Microstructure diagnostics: SEM, FIB, TEM, CT, SAM
  • Material analysis: XPS, ToF-SIMS, TEM-EDX, SEM-EDX, XRD, XRF
  • Multiphysical analysis: optical + spectroscopic methods, magnetic field analysis, lock-in thermography, electrical characterization

Projects

 

H2 Giga - FRHY

MORE INFO
 

H2Giga - StacIE

MORE INFO
 

H2Mare - H2Wind

MORE INFO

Defect diagnostics electrolyzer & fuel cell

What went wrong?

  • Identifying causes of defects and defect mechanisms from "large to small"
  • Triad: large-scale analysis methods (MFI), optimized target preparation and high-resolution diagnostics

Supporting the development of optimized materials and processes

Microstructure and materials by design

  • Accelerate development processes through more targeted product and material design
  • Develop an in-depth understanding of relevant material and process parameters

Quality control in production and operation

Will it go wrong?

  • Development and testing of new inline and in-situ methods (e.g. MFI, spectroscopy)
  • Establishment of production-accompanying material and microstructure diagnostics