Projects
Selection of research projects. Switch between projects to explore and compare their approaches, objectives, and technical focus areas.
SustainCell
European Union Horizon project on sustainable hydrogen technologies and supply chain innovation for fuel cells and electrolysers.
Role
Co-leader of WP6: Validation at cell level of new solutions with harmonized protocols
- Planned and coordinated WP6 activities and milestones across partners
- Organized and facilitated inter-partner meetings and discussions
- Performed and supervised targeted lab experiments and testing campaigns
- Contributed to the development of Ni-lean fuel electrodes
Duration
Nov 2024 – Current
Approach
Develop new, sustainable and CRM-lean (critical raw material-lean) materials, components and cell architectures across fuel cells and electrolyser technologies, using harmonized protocols and circular value chain methodologies.
Objective
Support the European industry in delivering next-generation fuel cell and electrolyser technologies with lower environmental footprint, reduced dependency on critical raw materials, higher durability, and improved performance. This includes validating new material solutions at the single-cell level using unified testing protocols.
Impact
- Development of eco-design guidelines and sustainable manufacturing routes.
- Harmonized testing and validation methodologies for CRM-lean electrochemical cells.
- Strengthened European supply chain resilience and reduced carbon footprint in hydrogen components and systems.
Keywords
PEPPER
European Horizon Europe / Clean Hydrogen Partnership project developing next-generation planar proton-conducting ceramic electrolysis cells for efficient and sustainable green hydrogen production.
Role
Project Researcher
- Contribute to the development and validation of planar proton-conducting ceramic electrolysis cells.
- Support testing activities under ambient and pressurized operating conditions.
- Collaborate with European partners on materials, cell, stack, and system-level development.
- Contribute to advancing scalable electrolysis technologies for green hydrogen production.
Duration
January 2025 – December 2027
Approach
PEPPER develops planar proton-conducting ceramic electrolysis cells operating at intermediate temperatures of 400–600°C. The project focuses on scalable cermet-supported and metal-supported cell technologies, ultra-thin electrolytes, compact short-stack integration, and validation under relevant operating conditions.
Objective
The objective is to develop high-performance, scalable PCCEL technologies for efficient hydrogen production while reducing energy consumption, critical raw material dependency, and environmental impact. The project supports the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, chemicals, refining, and transport.
Impact
- Advance efficient and sustainable green hydrogen production through PCCEL technology.
- Enable integration with industrial waste heat and improve energy efficiency.
- Reduce critical raw material use by more than 90% compared to conventional approaches.
- Support a commercialization pathway for next-generation electrolysis technology by 2035.
Keywords
HADES
Franco-German research project developing efficient and cost-effective ammonia decomposition technology to provide green hydrogen through electrochemical protonic ceramic reactors.
Role
Project Researcher
- Contribute to the development and validation of protonic ceramic cell technologies.
- Support experimental work on electrochemical ammonia decomposition and hydrogen production.
- Collaborate with German and French partners across materials, cells, modelling, and system integration.
- Contribute to advancing scalable technologies for green hydrogen supply from ammonia.
Duration
2025 – 2028
Approach
HADES combines electrochemical membrane reactors and advanced catalysis to enable one-step ammonia cracking, hydrogen purification, and compression. Metal-supported and cermet-supported protonic ceramic cells are compared to develop a compact, modular, and scalable reactor concept.
Objective
The objective is to produce pure and compressed green hydrogen from ammonia in a cost-effective and CO₂-free process. The project aims to understand ammonia decomposition mechanisms, select suitable cell materials, optimize operating conditions, and evaluate economic, environmental, safety, and regulatory aspects.
Impact
- Support decentralized green hydrogen supply using ammonia as an energy carrier.
- Develop compact and modular ammonia cracking technology for pure hydrogen production.
- Contribute to hydrogen supply chains for e-fuels, steel, chemistry, and Power-to-X applications.
- Strengthen Franco-German cooperation in hydrogen research and technology transfer.
Keywords
SOC Degradation 2.0
Joint German research project focused on understanding and mitigating degradation mechanisms in solid oxide fuel cells, electrolysis cells (SOEC) and reversible SOC systems to improve lifetime and reliability for green hydrogen applications.
Role
Project Researcher
- Designed and conducted experiments to investigate SOC degradation phenomena.
- Collaborated with project partners on joint evaluation and analysis tasks.
- Performed comprehensive data analysis and interpretation.
- Authored several publications, including work contributing to doctoral research.
- Compiled reports summarizing findings and project outcomes.
Duration
March 2021 – February 2024
Approach
The project established an experimental and scientific basis for the predictive understanding of degradation phenomena in SOC stacks and systems, involving mechanical characterization, impedance analysis, contaminant effects, and reversible operation. Specific investigation of electrode degradation under electrolysis operation bridged aging effects between SOEC and SOC modes.
Objective
To enable longer lifetimes and greater reliability of SOC systems by revealing intrinsic and extrinsic degradation mechanisms, and to provide reliable experimental data and diagnostics that support improved stack design and product development.
Impact
- Established a scientific understanding of degradation mechanisms in solid oxide cells and stacks.
- Identified key factors affecting long-term performance and system reliability.
- Provided experimental data and diagnostics supporting improved design and durability of SOC systems.
Keywords
iNew 2.0
Joint German research project on sustainable hydrogen technologies and CO₂/H₂O co-electrolysis in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) to optimize performance and Power-to-X applications.
Role
Project Researcher
- Conducted experimental investigations into the CO₂/H₂O co-electrolysis reaction mechanism and performance.
- Collaborated with partners on experimental setup, execution, and data analysis.
- Performed comprehensive evaluation of electrochemical results and reaction kinetics.
- Authored multiple publications based on project work, including contributions to master’s thesis findings.
- Prepared technical reports summarizing experimental outcomes and conclusions.
Duration
July 2021 – June 2024
Approach
- Designed and executed experiments on CO₂/H₂O co-electrolysis in SOEC cells.
- Systematically analyzed electrochemical performance and reaction kinetics.
- Collaborated with partners to align methodologies and share experimental data.
- Integrated experimental results with literature insights to optimize test strategies.
Objective
Improve understanding of co-electrolysis reaction mechanisms and optimize SOEC performance for sustainable Power-to-X applications.
Impact
- Advanced fundamental knowledge of CO₂/H₂O co-electrolysis mechanisms.
- Provided experimental data supporting optimized SOEC cell and stack design.
- Contributed to sustainable PtX technology pathways through improved process understanding.
Keywords