Labs in Kyushu University, Institute for Sustainable Hydrogen Research, Division of Hydrogen Utilization Research

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A materials and process lab working toward a hydrogen energy society, with fuel cells at its core.

The Hydrogen Utilization Process Lab studies materials and processes for fuel cells and related hydrogen systems, aiming to realize a hydrogen energy society with fuel cells at its core. The lab aims to solve challenges such as developing new materials, clarifying mechanisms, establishing guidelines for system design, and improving durability. The lab has a setup that allows it to carry out the full range of research, from material preparation and cell fabrication to evaluation of electrochemical properties and observation of microstructures. People from a wide range of academic backgrounds are welcome, including mechanical engineering, electrochemistry, materials engineering, chemistry, energy science, and systems engineering.

#Fuel cells #Hydrogen energy #Water electrolysis

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A lab that studies fuel cells and water electrolysis from a mechanical engineering perspective.

The Fuel Cell Systems Lab studies fuel cells and water electrolyzers using an approach grounded in mechanical engineering. From the standpoint of system engineers, the lab pursues research and development on polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), and water electrolyzers. Fuel cells and water electrolyzers are expected to be at the core of a next-generation sustainable energy society. For their full-scale adoption, reducing costs and improving durability and performance remain key challenges.

#Polymer electrolyte fuel cells #Solid oxide fuel cells #Water electrolysis

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The lab uses measurement and computation to reveal what happens inside batteries.

The Process Systems Engineering Lab studies batteries and electrochemical systems with next-generation vehicles and future energy management systems in mind. Looking across scales from nanoscale material interfaces to real operating environments, the lab clarifies internal reactions, mass transport, and the factors that govern them, and proposes guidelines and technical improvements for higher performance. The lab's motto is "five-in-one": real-material measurement, real complex three-dimensional structures, integration of measurement and computation, theoretical model development, and optimal design support. Its targets include lithium-ion batteries, polymer electrolyte fuel cells, all-solid-state batteries, air batteries, redox flow batteries, and lithium-sulfur batteries.

#Fuel cells #Lithium-ion batteries #Numerical simulation

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The lab studies how to improve the durability of solid oxide fuel cells and steam electrolysis.

Prof. Taniguchi of the Sustainable Hydrogen Institute researches ways to improve the durability of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and solid oxide steam electrolysis (SOEC). The lab also works on low-cost metallic materials for use in SOFCs. It also conducts NEDO projects and joint research with companies.

#Solid oxide fuel cells #Steam electrolysis #Durability

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The lab develops polymer materials for hydrogen energy devices.

The Nishihara Lab researches the development of polymer materials for fuel cells and water electrolysis, which are hydrogen energy devices. For materials used in electrolyte membranes and catalyst layers, the lab focuses on how gases pass through them. It also works on carbon materials that store hydrogen and on physical models that describe phenomena in fuel cells and water electrolysis computationally. Members come from diverse backgrounds, including chemistry, physics, materials, and mechanical engineering, and conduct research across disciplines.

#Fuel cells #Water electrolysis #Polyelectrolytes

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A lab that also uses electron microscopy to examine fuel cell materials at the atomic level.

On the Hydrogen Utilization Process Lab's website, Professor Junko Matsuda is introduced as a member involved in research on fuel cell electrode materials and fundamental science. The Hydrogen Utilization Process Lab aims to realize a hydrogen energy society centered on fuel cells, and studies materials and processes for fuel cells and related hydrogen systems. The website states that high-resolution electron microscopy at atomic resolution is an indispensable technique for research on the wide variety of fuel cell materials.

#Electron microscopy #Fuel cells #Hydrogen energy

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A heat transport lab that approaches the way heat is carried from the scale of atoms and electrons.

The Thermal Fluid Physics Lab studies how heat is carried (heat transport phenomena) from the scale of atoms and electrons, aiming to go beyond the limits of conventional heat transport technology. It clarifies heat transport phenomena through verification experiments using MEMS technology and high-speed infrared cameras, together with theory that incorporates applied physics such as phonons and photons. The lab works from fundamentals to applications, including the thermal use of solar energy and higher efficiency of thermoelectric semiconductors, which convert thermal energy directly into electrical energy.

#Thermoelectric conversion #Radiative property control #Heat conduction

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A lab that improves water management and power generation performance in fuel cells through research on the gas diffusion layer.

The Fuel Cell System Lab, based on mechanical engineering, advances research and development of fuel cells (PEFC, SOFC) and water electrolyzers. Fuel cells and water electrolyzers are expected to be at the core of a next-generation sustainable energy society because they are highly efficient regardless of scale, quiet, and highly reliable. Associate Professor Tatsumi Kitahara's team studies the design of gas diffusion layers coated with a microporous layer, in order to improve the power generation performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. On the lab's website, the research of each faculty member's team is introduced under the name 'Fuel Cell System Lab.'

#Gas diffusion layers #Microporous layers #Water management

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A lab that researches visualization technology to make the inside of fuel cells visible.

Associate Professor Yuya Tachikawa, at the Hydrogen Utilization Process Lab, develops technology that visualizes the phenomena occurring inside fuel cells. The lab aims to realize an environmentally friendly hydrogen energy society centered on fuel cells. Temperature changes, chemical reactions, and thermal stress distributions that cannot normally be observed are evaluated using numerical analysis and experimental visualization methods. The lab also develops system analysis methods for evaluating fuel cell systems at the macro level.

#Visualization #Fuel cells #Numerical analysis

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〈白金合金触媒〉 (introduction coming soon)

Development of highly active, highly durable platinum alloy catalysts for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (carbon–metal oxide composite support materials)