The production of green hydrogen requires new materials to make the process sustainable and cost-effective.
Green hydrogen, meaning hydrogen produced with renewable energy, can be used for energy storage and as a fuel. But a study by Swiss lab Empa, says that to make its production and use more efficient, special ceramics (non-metallic materials) that absorb and conduct protons are needed.
Researchers, who have been studying ceramic proton conductors for 20 years, say that good conductors must absorb as many protons as possible and the protons should be able to move as freely within the material.
Arthur Braun, Lead Researcher said: “You can imagine the ceramic membrane as a landscape criss-crossed by roads. The protons move along these roads like cars, the more cars on the roads, the more traffic slows down.
“A multi-lane proton highway where charges flow unimpeded in both directions would be the ideal scenario.”
Currently, how the behaviour of protons in ceramic membranes relates to their material structure is not yet fully understood.
The team say if the scientific fundamentals of proton conductivity is understood, they can determine how future ceramics can become better proton conductors.
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