Author: Laura Cyrne

Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells (PEM FCs) have gathered significant attention in the field of energy conversion due to their numerous advantages over other types of fuel cells. Among them:   Performance: PEM FCs have high efficiency in converting chemical energy into electrical energy. Operating at relatively low temperatures (around 60-80°C) and high temperatures (over 160oC) and the proton-conducting membrane in PEM FCs enables quick proton transport, resulting in high power density and excellent performance. This is particularly advantageous for applications requiring rapid and dynamic response, such as automotive and portable electronic devices. Durability and Longevity: The good durability and longevity of PEM FCs make them suitable for various applications. The advances in materials science and manufacturing processes have contributed to improved membrane durability and enhanced resistance to degradation over time. Environmental footprint: By using hydrogen as the fuel source and producing water and heat makes them environmentally friendly but also...

On the 12nd and 13rd of December, all NICKEFFECT partners got together at the Matgenix offices, located in A6K, in Charleroi, Belgium, to held the last Consortium Meeting of this year and go through the first Review Meeting of the project, in a moment that marks the first year and a half since its beginning.   The multidisciplinary NICKEFFECT team, composed by 12 partners from 7 different EU and HEU-associated countries, had the opportunity to, on the 12nd of December, have a full day meeting with fruitful discussions about the current state of the NICKEFFECT project. Click here to get to know all the entities participating in this HE (Horizon Europe) Project.   The objectives of the project as a whole (as well as the different goals of each of the work packages) were reviewed, a status assessment was carried out on the work done by the several partners since June 2022 and the...

Chemicals are ubiquitous in the workplace (glues, resins, processing fluids, cleaning and bleaching agents, degreasers, paints…). They are used intentionally as substances or, more frequently, as preparations (mixtures). They may also be emitted from a process (combustion, degradation...

Functional materials are at the center of most technologies of our everyday life: cell phones, solar cells, batteries, thermoelectric devices, digital storage, catalysis, and many other applications need at least one material fulfilling a task through its intrinsic physical properties. Finding a material well-suited for a given application is far from trivial. Indeed, even though close to 300 000 crystal structures have been reported today, less than 1 percent of those materials have been characterized for any measurable property.    The mapping between crystal structures and physical properties is very far from completely known. Such mapping has to be constructed by characterizing known (or even unknown) materials. The traditional approach is to try and synthetize materials in lab conditions and measure their properties. When looking for a new material for a given application, the next step is to assess whether it is worth pursuing with this material or if another one should...

On November 21, 2023, Elena Jubete, representing CIDETEC partner, attended the Workshop on Sustainable Materials, organised by AMI2030 & EMIRI in San Sebastián, Spain. This event brought together experts, researchers, and industry professionals to discuss and showcase advancements in sustainable materials.   Elena Jubete's contribution to the workshop was marked by her presentation on "Greener Pathways for Surface Treatments and Composite Materials." The speech provided valuable insights into CIDETEC's involvement in the NICKEFFECT project. The audience gained a deeper understanding of environmentally friendly approaches to surface treatments and composite materials, aligning with the broader theme of circularity in materials research.   In addition to the speech, a roll-up display featuring key information about the NICKEFFECT project was showcased, capturing the attention of attendees and fostering engagement with the project's objectives and outcomes. The NICKEFFECT activities related to Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) were also highlighted during the round table discussions, underlining the project's...

Nickel plating processes, while widely used, come with their own set of challenges, especially when it comes to upscaling from laboratory setups to larger plating cells. The NICKEFFECT project, aimed at developing Ni-alloy plated electrodes, faces not only the inherent limitations of nickel plating but also the complexities introduced by the porous structures.   Addressing Throwing Power Limitations:   One notable challenge in nickel plating processes is the limited throwing power compared to other methods, leading to edge effects with uneven deposit thickness near substrate borders. The NICKEFFECT project acknowledges this hurdle and seeks to overcome it during the upscaling process.   Managing Current Density Variations:   Ni-alloy plating introduces an additional layer of complexity, as the alloy content in the deposit strongly depends on current density. Factor in the three-dimensional structures, and you face varying current density and deposit thickness throughout the substrate. Achieving uniformity in thickness and alloy content becomes a formidable task, especially when upscaling...

Whether we realize it or not, we use Nickel every day in our lives. Nickel can be found in household appliances and products, electronics, jewelry, coins, buildings, stainless steel, magnets, and even in our bodies, as a trace element. Nickel also has several important industrial applications as a catalyst, in both oxidation and reduction reactions, used for example in oil refining and hydrogenation reactions. An important application of Nickel towards the transition to carbon-neutral energy is its catalytic activity for Hydrogen production. Can Nickel be part of the solution for clean energy production in the future?   We believe it can. Researchers involved in the NICKEFFECT project are developing Nickel-based coatings for several applications, including the catalytic production of Hydrogen. While this reaction is already applied on a commercial scale, it typically uses Platinum as the catalyst, a scarce and expensive element. Instead, the researchers involved in NICKEFFECT aim to develop Platinum-free...

Last Friday, November 10th 2023, the IRISS Workshop was organised, and dedicated to Horizon Europe (HE) projects that are adopting the SSbD (Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design) approach and/or will foster collaboration among SSbD projects.   This workshop featured presentations from IRISS, the Joint Research Center (JRC), the NanoSafety Cluster (NSC), and PARC, providing insights into the SSbD framework, the evolving SSbD roadmap at IRISS, and the ongoing development of the SSbD toolbox at PARC. Joséphine Steck, Chemical Risk Engineer and SSbD Project Manager in CEA, was present at the Workshop, as representative for NICKEFFECT’s Work Package focused on “Decision Support Tool including sustainable by design approach”.   Additionally, several HE projects, including the NICKEFFECT project, (such as MACRAME, ACCORDs, POTENTIAL, NanoPass, iCARE, SURPASS, RE-PURPOSE, REDONDO, ESTELLA) had the opportunity to present their cases and explain their SSbD strategy, in order to involve the community and present best practices within this topic.   NICKEFFECT develops and will validate at least...

This Friday, November 10th, the NICKEFFECT project will be present at the IRISS online workshop, focused on the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) approach.   This workshop will showcase how Horizon Europe (HE) projects are adopting the SSbD approach and will foster collaboration among SSbD projects. The event will commence with presentations from IRISS, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the NanoSafety Cluster (NSC), and PARC, providing insights into the SSbD framework, the evolving SSbD roadmap at IRISS, and the ongoing development of the SSbD toolbox at PARC. Subsequently, HE projects, including NICKEFFECT, will present their SSbD implementation efforts, followed by a panel discussion featuring selected representatives, aimed at gathering input and suggestions for aligning and focusing SSbD efforts and IRISS support.    Especially aimed at Horizon Europe projects that want or are implementing this approach, overall this workshop will serve to strengthen the impact of the SSbD community and also showcase best practices from different projects.   Representing NICKEFFECT...

Platinum is the rock star as a water reduction electrocatalyst, particularly in acidic media. However, its low abundance and high price makes it necessary to envision new platinum-free electrocatalysts. The same holds when we look at the oxygen reduction reaction side in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Options are not so obvious when it comes to transition metals and full replacement of platinum is often accompanied by a decrease of the catalytic activity. While some alternatives in the form of alloys or composites show promising results, their long-term durability is often compromised. Corrosion-related issues appear and profound leaching of the material catalyst is unavoidable.   Playing with the catalyst architecture while keeping its composition free from platinum is a convenient strategy to couple high electrocatalytic performance and good durability in acidic media. The introduction of porosity in the catalyst material has been the focus of intense research in the last years....