5. Conclusion

The production and conversion of hydrogen by water electrolysis and in fuel cells involve all the materials traditionally used in industry, such as polymers, ceramics, metal alloys and composites.

Many have already been successfully integrated into demonstration high-temperature electrolyzers or fuel cells in the 100 kW range.

Nevertheless, the specifications and environments in which these materials are called upon to operate are highly specific and made aggressive by the range of oxygen partial pressures covered, from pure hydrogen to pure oxygen, combined with the presence of high current densities. As a result, the performance/life-cycle/cost trade-off of the various components is often not sufficient to bring them to market.

At the root of these limitations are the interactions and compatibilities between the...