Research
PUSH works from molecular to system level and is organised in three focus areas addressing Hydrogen production by water electrolysis based on alkaline membranes (AEMEC), Systems for liquid hydrogen storage and distribution and Electrochemical conversion of hydrogen in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC).
Eight doctoral students and three postdocs, one in each focus area, have been recruited to PUSH.
Cross-cutting activities on system studies, membranes, catalysts, bipolar plates and durability link the focus areas and assure collaborations between doctoral students, postdocs, researchers and research teams. Essential for the success of the project are also the activities concerning management, dissemination and a doctoral student network.
Examples of scientific questions that these projects will address include:
- How can the catalyst compositions and molecular structure of membranes be tailored to give the necessary activity and long-term stability under strongly alkaline conditions?
- Which are the most suitable liquid organic hydrogen carrier systems, and how can reaction conditions and catalysts for hydrogen conversion in those systems be optimised?
- How will an increase in operational temperature of the PEMFC affect the optimisation of the design of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA)?