Project description
Fluorine-free electrolysers to produce green hydrogen
Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, producing clean hydrogen fuel. This method is efficient and ideal for renewable energy integration. The EU-funded FASTCH2ANGE project will transform PEM electrolysis by developing PFAS-free components for its cells. FASTCH2ANGE targets the development of fluorine-free proton exchange membranes, catalyst-support layers, gas diffusion layers and sealing components. Researchers will use a sol-gel process to improve hydrophobicity and thermal stability. The project envisions a groundbreaking 5-cell PFAS-free stack that will undergo testing. If successful, it will be tested under harmonised European protocols, ensuring compatibility with fuel cell technologies. This effort could replace harmful materials, saving up to 10 500 tonnes of PFAS in Europe’s electrolysis systems by 2030.
Objective
FASTCH2ANGE aims to pioneer a sustainable-by-design method for developing TRL4-compliant 100% PFAS-free proton exchange membrane-based electrolysis (PEMEL) cells. It will focus on developing four fluorine-free components: proton exchange membranes, catalyst-supporting layers, transport and gas diffusion layers, and new sealing components like gaskets and insulation plates.
FASTCH2ANGE will achieve this by designing, developing, and testing new PFAS-free PEMs at TRL4. These PEMs will be made using TEOS-based hybrid organic-inorganic ionomers, targeting an operating current density of 3.0 A/cm² at 1.8 V cell voltage, with a degradation rate under 5 μV/hr by 2030. Innovations in catalyst coating technologies will be explored, including an optimized ink deposition technique.
Additionally, fluoroelastomers-free liquid-gas diffusion layers will be prepared using a sol-gel process with silicon alkoxides to improve hydrophobicity and thermal stability. FASTCH2ANGE also plans to develop PFAS-free sealing components using silicon-based sol-gel formulations and advanced materials like stainless steel, polyetheretherketone, and polyphenylene sulfide, employing high-performance coatings such as diamond-like carbon and ceramic.
Hence, an advanced testing platform utilizing multisingle cells proprietary technology will test the newly developed catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs), achieving
a first-of-its-kind PFAS-free 5-cells stack with optimal components.
Harmonized European testing protocols will be used, and the cross-integrability with fuel cell technologies will be assessed in close synergy with SUSTAINCELL and EVERYWH2ERE projects.
FASTCH2ANGE new components will allow the replacement of 10-11% by weight of a new generation of electrolysis systems with harmless materials, that for the envisioned European 140 GW capacity would mean saving up to 10500 tons of PFAS crafted into PEMEL components by 2030.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fuel cells
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
00128 Roma
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.