CEA litenis a fast growing technological research institute dedicated to new energy technologies (photovoltaic, batteries, H₂ and fuel cells) and nano-materials research. CEA is heading the N.ERGHY research grouping. Within CEA Liten, the DEHT (Electricity and Hydrogen technologies for the Transports Department) is now staffed with more than 150 employees. The laboratory covers R&D on low temperature and high temperature fuel cells and electrolysers, from materials (membranes, catalysts, ceramic cells, bipolar plates, seals) to system integration (stack and systems design and prototyping, power electronics, technical-economic studies).

The main tasks attributed and previous experiences:
In this project, CEA Liten will participate to the physical characterization of the components selected for the stack design. They will participate by providing input data (3D structure, porosity, specific surface area, electrical properties, etc) for modelling. Electrochemical characterization (polarization curve, impedance spectroscopy) and mapping using local acoustic measurement will be implemented to localize and identify the flow regime transition in bubbles formation. In addition, they will also participate in the selection of the components and materials used in the stack: corrosion tests, electrical properties, nanocharacterization.

CEA LITEN has a long experience in low temperature fuel cells, and important studies were conducted at CEA on PEM electrolysis since the 1990s. It has been involved in numerous academic and industrial projects in these fields. Specific experimental tools have been developed to characterize some main transport properties of materials used inside cell cores. In that project, two PEMWE single cell test benches (400 A, 5V) and a short stacks test bench (600 A, 16 V, 30 bars) are available to characterize MEA and components.