Hydrogen Network

Fraunhofer IST is a new member of the Fraunhofer Network “Wasserstoff” (Hydrogen)

Fraunhofer IST /

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has founded a hydrogen network - which now also includes the Fraunhofer IST, represented by Dr.-Ing. Marko Eichler. The aim of the network is developing hydrogen technologies to market maturity within a short period of time and therefore providing a contribution towards the energy revolution.

© Fraunhofer IST, Jan Benz
The bipolar plates of a redox flow battery.

Within the network, the more than 20 member institutes pool their activities in the field of hydrogen technologies. The competencies thereby range from material and system development and production, through applications in the energy sector and industry, and on to interdisciplinary topics such as safety and life-cycle analyses.

The Fraunhofer IST thereby directs its focus onto material development and process digitization. One concrete example is the development of conductive corrosion protection for bipolar plates: Corrosion resistance and electrical properties can be improved through appropriate coatings and surface modifications. In collaboration with the Fraunhofer institutes IKTS and CSP, the Fraunhofer IST is currently conducting research into modules for photocatalytic water-splitting.