Materials for PEM Fuel Cells: Key Technology Trends
The market for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is growing rapidly, in parallel with the overarching fuel cell electric vehicle market. The technology landscape for these components is set to change in many varied ways over the coming years. Despite dominant incumbent materials for some components, alternatives are emerging with respect to both material innovation and manufacturing processes. With an increased materials demand in terms of both volume and units, key supply chain agreements are being established and strengthened to secure a share of the materials market for PEM fuel cells, that IDTechEx forecast to exceed a value of US$7bn by 2033.
A PEM fuel cell consists of a number of well-defined components, integrated together to form a fuel cell stack. The primary components are the bipolar plate (BPP), the gas diffusion layer (GDL), the proton exchange membrane (PEM) or ionomer, and the catalyst coated membrane (CCM). The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) consists of the PEM, CCM and GDL.
In this webinar, Dr. Conor O'Brien, a Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, will discuss the latest developments and technology trends in materials for PEM fuel cells, the growing material demands, as well as the scope of the supply chain within the industry.
This webinar will:
- Discuss the key components of a PEM fuel cell including their purpose, form factor and possible material choices.
- Highlight innovations in alternative materials and manufacturing processes with respect to the incumbents.
- Outline key technology trends for materials, including the driving forces behind these trends.
- Overview the PEM fuel cell market within the context of the broader fuel cell electric vehicle market
More details and ten-year market forecasts can be found in IDTechEx's comprehensive report "Materials for PEM Fuel Cells 2023-2033". These forecasts are based on extensive research of OEMs, material suppliers and manufacturers of key components: BPPs, GDLs, ionomer membranes, CCMs and MEAs. IDTechEx highlight the key technology trends for each component, benchmark alternative materials and outline dominant and emerging manufacturing methods together with granular ten-year forecasts and company profiles.
