Department new materials and technologies

The core task of the department is the development of inventions in the field of hydrogen and fuel cell technology and a systematic transfer of these into application-oriented research.

This includes the analysis and development of new materials and processes. In the research group, novel materials for fuel cell components such as bipolar plate coatings, seals, layer materials of the membrane electrode assembly are analysed using various measurement techniques and their possible applications are investigated. The characterization of new materials (material discovery) as well as the optimization of measurement methods and novel processes are in the foreground. The fields of application of the materials and technologies range from small portable fuel cell systems to future-oriented applications in shipping and aviation.

Standardisation measures are used to acquire new methodological skills. Product and process optimisation as well as the development of test concepts for different fuel cell types (NT-PEM, HT-PEM, NT-AEM) are also in focus of the work. Questions concerning the design and characterisation of fluid mechanical components are additionally dealt with using simulation and modelling approaches (CFD).