Green H2: Fuel cell tech slashes 20% costs w/ 33% thinner membrane. New prototype is a mere 10μm thick, 33% thinner

[Caribbeans]

Thinner – but more efficient.

Green hydrogen: Fuel cell tech slashes 20% costs with 33% thinner membrane

New membrane prototype is a mere 10 micrometers (10um) thick, 33% thinner than the current 15 micrometer (15um) standard.

Aman Tripathi | InterestingEngineering.com | May 31, 2025

Norwegian researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking new membrane technology for hydrogen fuel cells.

“A new membrane technology – so light and thin that it makes an A4 sheet of paper feel like thick cardboard – has been created in the hydrogen laboratory,” said the researchers in a press release.

This innovation, emerging from the hydrogen laboratory at SINTEF, promises to drastically reduce the cost and environmental impact of fuel cells and accelerate their competitiveness with electric motors.

Slimming down two critical components

The latest development centers on the ability to significantly slim down two critical components of fuel cells: the membrane and the catalyst.

“The membrane and the catalyst account for up to 41 percent of the total cost of fuel cells. That is why researchers at SINTEF chose to look at how these two components could be reduced,” added the press release...more
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/hydrogen-fuel-cell-tech-slashes-costs