This study, carried out at the DLR Institute of Future Fuels (German Aerospace Center, Jülich), addresses a critical challenge in hydrogen production: the durability and performance of bipolar plates under demanding operating conditions.

By focusing on gold-coated bipolar plates, the research explores how advanced material design can significantly enhance corrosion resistance, which is an essential factor for ensuring the long-term efficiency of SO₂-depolarised electrolysis systems.

The integrated approach of this work, which combines:

• in situ experimental investigation under realistic operating conditions; and
• in depth materials analysis to understand degradation mechanisms

enables the development of more reliable and scalable solutions for next-generation hydrogen production technologies, including applications in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers.

Read the open access article here.