Fluorine-free membrane electrode assemblies for water electrolysis (Fluorfreie-MEA)

In the H2Giga project Fluorfreie-MEA, inexpensive fluorine-free membrane electrode assemblies are being developed for water electrolysis. Together with Fumatech BWT GmbH and the University of Freiburg, the next generation of membrane electrode assemblies for the cost-effective and environmentally friendly production of green hydrogen are to be produced.

Water electrolysis based on a polymer electrolyte membrane is a central technology for the production of green hydrogen. The polymer electrolyte membrane is usually based on perfluorosulfonic acids, since these have a high stability. However, the latest membrane materials based on fluorine-free hydrocarbons have the potential to clearly outperform perfluorosulfonic acids in several properties. They have significantly lower gas permeability and higher stability even at high temperatures (T> 80 ° C). In addition, the synthesis of hydrocarbon membranes does not involve any fluorine chemistry, so that the production of this type of membrane is potentially much cheaper and more environmentally friendly than the production of perfluorosulfonic acids.

In order to make use of these advantages, high-performance fluorine-free MEAs (membrane electrode assemblies) are to be developed in the joint project using scalable technologies. As part of the hydrogen lead projects of the BMBF, “Fluorfreie-MEA” is helping to produce efficient and cost-effective water electrolysers of the next generation.