Nikolai Utsch

The decarbonization of hard‐to‐abate sectors, including aviation and maritime transport, is essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Power‐to‐fuels (PtF) pathways offer a technically feasible solution, particularly with the growing deployment of renewable energy. However, their large‐scale implementation faces significant economic and technical challenges. Meeting future demand for sustainable fuels will require substantial investment in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis capacities, estimated at €6.5–10.2 billion. In parallel, large‐scale electrolysis capacities are needed to provide hydrogen, with investment costs estimated at three times those of synthesis plants. This publication reviews current developments in electrolysis technologies and component manufacturing, assessing their potential to reduce costs, enhance economic competitiveness, and accelerate the large‐scale deployment of PtF pathways.

Microscopy images are encoded into statistical features, enabling quantitative, data-driven characterization of catalyst layer morphology.

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) has emerged as one of the most promising technologies for large hydrogen (H ₂ ) production from renewable electricity. However, using iridium (Ir) in large quantities is a roadblock in the widespread expansion of this technology. One strategy to reduce Ir loading in the anode is the use of an electroceramic support material. This study examines the structural and electrochemical evolution of Ir on antimony tin oxide (Ir/ATO) anodes under extended operation. Initial electrochemical performance demonstrates that low‐loaded Ir/ATO (0.2 mg _Ir cm ⁻² ) can achieve a competitive current density of 2.82 A cm ⁻² at 2 V, comparable to state‐of‐the‐art PEMWE catalysts. However, extended operation leads to a minimal but gradual decline in catalytic activity. Postmortem analysis reveals changes in porosity and pore distribution, while atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies indicate ionomer degradation in the anode catalyst layer (ACL). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the dissolution of oxides of Sb and Sn from the support material. Furthermore, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) confirmed the oxidation of metallic Ir (Ir ⁰ ) to IrOx _x ·OH _y species before and after operation. Understanding degradation in low‐Ir PEMWEs is key to improving long‐term stability. These results highlight the need for support stabilization and catalyst structuring to ensure durable performance.

Understanding the sheet resistance of porous electrodes is essential for improving the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers and related technologies. Despite its importance, existing methods often fail to provide reliable and comprehensive data, especially for porous materials with complex morphologies and non‐uniform thicknesses. This study introduces a robust and straightforward method for determining the sheet resistance of porous electrodes using a novel probe concept based on industrial printed circuit board (PCB) technology. This probe measures resistance across ten distances, ranging from 250 µm to 2500 µm, enabling local mapping of resistance. The study focuses on the sheet resistance of key components in PEM water electrolyzers, including the gas diffusion layer (GDL), porous transport layer (PTL), and catalyst layers deposited on a membrane. Additionally, an image‐processing‐based method is presented to obtain the thickness distribution of the studied catalyst layers, facilitating a detailed analysis of the electrical in‐plane resistivity with thickness variations. Overall, this methodology has the potential to expedite material integration and bridge the gap between electrode engineering and single‐cell testing, thereby advancing the development of PEM water electrolyzers.