The project

In the Franco-German research project FFWD novel hydrocarbon based membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) are developed for high pressure and high temperature proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis. The complementary consortium of research and industry partners will evaluate the whole development chain from polymer synthesis to stack testing.

France + Germany

TRL 2 - 5

11/2024 - 10/2027

2..25 Mio €

February 2025, Freiburg: KickOff

Concept and Methodology

MEA development

Round robin test with PFAS-based reference MEAs
Development of a PFAS-free reference MEA based on commercial hydrocarbon materials
Full hydrocarbon MEA based on novel materials developed in FFWD

Testing and post-mortem analysis

Characterization of membranes and MEAs ex- and in-situ with the final goal of high temperature and high pressure testing in stack configuration
Evaluation of the influence of fiber reinforcements and recombination layers within the membrane on performance and lifetime
Comparision of different MEA designs e.g. free standing electrodes vs. catalyst coated membranes (CCMs)
Post-mortem analysis to get insights into degradation markers

PFAS-free electrolysis

State of the art

In state of the art, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used as proton conductive ionomer and membrane in PEM electrolysis.

PFAS are so called « everlasting chemical » that are distributed all over the planet with severe consequences for the environment.

Additional to enviromental concerns, relatively high synthesis cost and poor thermo-mechanical properties at temperatures > 90°C motivate the development of PFAS-free electrolysis.

Known PFAS contamination sites in Europe, November 2023 (https://foreverpollution.eu/map/)

Hydrocarbon polymers

A PFAS-free alternative for proton conductive ionomer and membranes in PEM electrolysis are hydrocarbons, allowing for:

Higher operation temperature
Lower gas cross-over
Higher proton conductivity
Less environmental pollution & easier recycling
Reduced synthesis cost
More freedom for chemical functionalization

For the development of PFAS-free electrolysis, goals in FFWD are:

Identify challenges along the hydrocarbon MEA manufacturing chain starting from polymer synthesis
Identify degradation markers during performance and longterm testing

Consortium

Syensqo is a recent company created in December 2023, coming from the split of legacy Solvay Group, with a diverse global team of more than 13,000 employees in 30 countries with 12 R&I centres, we work together to advance science and help humanity move forward. We’re developing solutions based on our specialty materials to drive the green hydrogen economy forward. The green hydrogen revolution is made a reality with Syensqo's advanced materials for hydrogen production, infrastructure and mobility. Used within electrolyzers, fuel cells and other facets of hydrogen systems, Syensqo's products and solutions support today’s leading hydrogen technology platforms.

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Elogen is a leading French company pioneering green hydrogen production through advanced Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer technology. As a subsidiary of the GTT Group, Elogen combines robust industrial expertise with cutting-edge scientific research to develop high-performance and modular electrolyzers designed for tomorrow’s energy systems.

With a strong commitment to accelerating the energy transition, Elogen provides innovative solutions for the on-site production of low-carbon hydrogen. Its PEM technology offers high efficiency, dynamic response, and a compact design – ideal for integration with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Elogen’s technology is designed to meet the demands of diverse sectors including industry, mobility, and power-to-gas applications.

Driven by innovation, sustainability, and performance, Elogen is committed to enabling a cleaner, more resilient energy future. The company is also actively involved in European collaborative projects and contributes to shaping the regulatory and technical standards of the hydrogen economy.

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ionysis GmbH (ION) is a spin-off company from the research group “Electrochemical Energy Systems” at Hahn-Schickard and the University of Freiburg founded in 2022. With a team of more than 25 FTEs, their objective is to industrialize and commercialize novel, PFAS-free catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) and demonstrate their technical feasibility at a scale for a broad range of electrochemical applications including fuel cells, electrolyzers or emerging negative emission technologies. The role of ionysis will be to develop CCMs based on the polymers and membranes of FFWD.

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The chair of Polymer Chemistry at Chemnitz University of Technology is designing and synthesizing polymeric materials for energy conversion and storage. The group has recently successfully entered the areas of both PEM and AEM material design and has set up all important analytical tools relevant to polymer and membrane characterization. PFAS-free membranes are among the group´s primary interests. In FFWD, the group will develop a fluorine-free PEM polymer with high conductivity and balanced swelling.

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Hahn-Schickard Freiburg is a research institute hosting the division “Electrochemical Energy Systems” with a strong record of more than 30 publications and several awards in the field of electrochemical devices such as batteries, fuel cells or electrolyzers. With more than seven years' experience, the group is among the first to successfully implement PFAS-free hydrocarbon polymers into fuel cells and electrolyzers and currently hosting world-renown experts for PFAS free polymers, such as Dr. Klaus-Dieter Kreuer. Its contribution within this project is focused on the development of PFAS-free membranes that are mechanically reinforced.

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LEMTA is a CNRS and Université de Lorraine laboratory conducting research in mechanics and energy. The “Hydrogen and Electrochemical Systems” team involved in FFWD specializes in the characterization of PEM and AEM fuel cells and electrolyzers at the single cell scale. The laboratory's role in FFWD will be to quantify the performances and durability of the materials developed by the partners, and to understand degradation mechanisms.

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Workshop

Stay tuned to participate in our workshop on PFAS-free electrolysis 2026 in Strasbourg - bringing together key players from reserach and industry.

More information will be announced soon!

https://www.visitstrasbourg.fr/de/entdecken/highlights/das-strassburger-muenster/

Project Leader FFWD

Institution: LEMTA

Mail: gael.maranzana@univ-lorraine.fr

Contact

Prof. Dr. Gaël Maranzana

Dr. Melanie Bühler

Project Leader FFWD

Institution: Hahn-Schickard Freiburg

Mail: melanie.buehler@hahn-schickard.de

Acknowledgement

FFWD is funded on the German side by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) under the grant 03SF0781A and on the French side by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) under the grant ANR-24-ENER-0005.

Fluorine-Free Water Electrolysis Development

The project

Concept and Methodology

MEA development

Testing and post-mortem analysis

PFAS-free electrolysis

State of the art

Hydrocarbon polymers

Consortium

Workshop

Contact

Prof. Dr. Gaël Maranzana

Dr. Melanie Bühler

Acknowledgement