Global Hydrogen Research – H2GATHER

H2GATHER is a five-year international research project focused on the development of Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer (AEMWE) technology – a next-generation solution for clean hydrogen production. The project is one of the flagship international initiatives of the Global Cooperation Flagship Program of the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea, which aims to tackle climate change through international research collaboration. Its total budget is approximately KRW 10.2 billion (USD 7.5 million).

The research team works to advance all core components of the AEM system, including catalysts, membranes, cells and stacks. Specific objectives include the development of high-performance, durable catalysts based on nickel and other non-precious metals; long-term durability through novel ionomers and hybrid membranes; and hydrogen production systems suitable for industrial application through 3D-printed cell fabrication, plasma surface treatments and techno-economic analysis. The project aims to contribute to Korea’s target hydrogen production cost of USD 1 per kilogram by 2030.

The consortium is led by Prof. Yong-Tae Kim (POSTECH) and brings together leading Korean institutions, including Seoul National University, KAIST, UNIST, KENTECH, Korea University, Sogang University, Chung-Ang University, Gyeongsang National University and Sangmyung University, industrial partners Umicore Korea, Techwin, Orion Polymer and AcroLabs, and international collaborators from Northwestern University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Texas A&M University and the Jožef Stefan Institute. The Department contributes its expertise in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and in the diagnostics of electrochemical energy systems; as part of this collaboration, an EIS workshop was held at Seoul National University in August 2025.

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