Project description
Innovative metal-organic glasses enable improved high-temperature electrolysers
Hydrogen energy can make a major contribution to decarbonising sectors including transportation, industry and energy storage. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers produce hydrogen by using electricity to split water, with the PEM membrane selectively allowing protons (hydrogen ions) to pass through. Current PEM electrolysers face temperature-dependent technical challenges: low thermal stability and reduced efficiency at higher temperatures. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MOPOWER project aims to develop a new class of proton conductors based on metal-organic glasses (MOGs) tailored for intermediate-temperature electrolysis and high-temperature PEM fuel cells. MOGs offer superior proton conductivity, thermal stability and exceptional processability, the latter supporting scale-up and integration into practical PEM systems.
Objective
The European Green Deal sets ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Achieving these goals requires innovative solutions, with renewable hydrogen emerging as a key strategy. As a clean and versatile energy carrier, renewable hydrogen offers a promising pathway to decarbonize sectors such as transportation, industry, and energy storage, making it ideal for meeting the Green Deal's climate objectives. However, the production of renewable hydrogen is currently limited by the efficiency of electrolysis technologies, particularly those involving proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. These systems, while effective, are constrained by low thermal stability and reduced efficiency at higher temperatures, which also hinders the broader adoption of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (HFCEVs). To address these challenges, the MOPOWER project aims to develop advanced metal-organic glasses (MOGs) as a new class of proton conductors. Using a bottom-up strategy, MOPOWER seeks to design MOGs tailored for intermediate-temperature electrolysis (150–250°C) and high-temperature PEM fuel cells (100–180°C). These materials offer superior proton conductivity, thermal stability, and exceptional processability, allowing them to be easily shaped into defect-free, high-performance membranes. This modularity and ease of fabrication are critical for scaling up production and integrating MOGs into practical PEM systems. Through this innovative approach, MOPOWER aims to overcome the current limitations of renewable hydrogen production, supporting the transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral future. The MOPOWER bridges the candidate's strong background in conductive porous materials with the host group's extensive experience in microfabrication, making it a feasible undertaking.
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.
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- engineering and technology materials engineering amorphous solids
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
3000 Leuven
Belgium
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.