Project title: Development of tailored surfaces for a more efficient production of Hydrogen and Oxygen in-space via PEM electrolysis
Type of project: International Project
Role: Subcontractor
Financing: European Space Agency ESA
Duration: 1.09.2023 – 28.02.2025
Laboratory: Laboratory for Heating Technology LTT
Project description:
The purpose of this project is to enhance detaching of the hydrogen gas bubbles via the passive technique, namely by texturing the surface of electrodes utilized in electrolyzers. Textures created through various laser ablation techniques with or without the additional use of monolayer coatings will provide durable solutions to increase the nucleation site density, reduce bubble coalescence and promote bubble detachment during electrolysis. This project aims to develop techniques able to control and optimize the wettability of PEM electrodes to increase gas bubble formation and release during electrolysis process.