Separation and Conversion Technology (SCT)

General expertise of the research group

VITO, one of Europe’s leading research centres, turns scientific insights into groundbreaking technological innovations. As a science-to-technology partner, we support the sustainability transition with a multidisciplinary approach and unique lab-to-pilot infrastructure. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a regenerative economy, resilient ecosystems, and a healthy living environment.

Within this mission, the Electrochemistry Excellence Centre (ELEC) is VITO’s industry-oriented innovation partner in the hydrogen ecosystem, focused on turning electrochemical expertise into deployable technologies. We operate at the crucial interface between research and industry, helping partners reduce technical risk, shorten development timelines, and support confident investment decisions.

Rather than purely academic research, ELEC combines component development, testing, and system-level validation to support the transition from early concepts to industrial-ready solutions. We enable manufacturers and technology developers through independent validation, rapid prototyping, and actionable techno-economic insights—all with a sharp focus on scalability and real-world impact.

Specific hydrogen- related expertise & research topics

We partner with industry on the design, development, and critical testing of electrochemical components for hydrogen production. Our multidisciplinary team serves as both a collaborative development partner and an independent validation provider.

a)     Core expertise

1. Design and in-house development of electrochemical components
   • We develop electrochemical components from early concept to validated prototype, integrating material science, engineering, and modelling
   • Innovative Component Design: Tailored electrodes, membranes/separators, and MEAs
   • Rapid Prototyping: Fast catalyst screening and flexible fabrication
   • Electrochemical Modelling: To optimize performance, durability, and scale-up strategies
2. Testing, validation, and industrial qualification
   • We act as an independent testing partner, offering advanced infrastructure to evaluate materials, components, and prototypes
   • Systematic Performance & Durability Testing: Under realistic, highly configurable operating conditions
   • Flexible Testing Platforms: Bench-scale and custom test rigs with standardized protocols
   • Parallel, High-Throughput Validation: For rapid material down-selection and concept validation

b)    Research topics

• Our multidisciplinary R&D spans the full Technology Readiness Level (TRL) spectrum:
  • Low-Temperature Electrolysis (up to 80 – 90°C): Expertise in Alkaline and Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolysis, from component development to pilot-scale validation
  • Medium to High-Temperature Electrolysis (150 – 800°C): Development and testing of next-generation solid oxide and ceramic-based components

Available equipment/tools

ELEC offers a complete, industry-oriented testing platform for validating advanced materials and electrochemical components. Our infrastructure is built around complementary testing rigs covering the full development chain—from early-stage screening to long-duration durability studies and industrial-scale component validation. All rigs operate under harmonised and verified protocols, ensuring high-quality and reproducible results.

a)     Testing Equipment: A Platform for Every Development Stage

1. Lab‑Scale screening
2. • Compact and flexible configurations ideal for the initial screening of material performance.
   • Low-temperature (up to 80 – 90 °C): H-cells and flow cells with active areas of 0.5 – 10 cm².
   • Mid and High Temperature (150 – 900 °C): Button and planar cells with active areas of 1 – 50 cm².
3. Pressurised Test Rigs

• 3 highly adaptable test rigs designed for rapid assessment of new materials and small components. Ideal for iterative development and fast feedback during early‑stage performance screening.
  • Single cell/small stack testing capability
  • Active area: 5 – 15 cm²
  • Operational ranges:
    • 0 – 15 bar, Room Temperature – 75 °C
    • 0 – 40 bar, Room Temperature – 85 °C
    • 0 – 16 bar, Room Temperature – 80 °C
  • Control system: LabVIEW-based
  • Comprehensive sensoring: Pressure, Temperature, Flow rates (Q)
  • Gas quality analysis: HTO, Gas Chromatography
  • Electrochemical characterization: I-V curves, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)

1. Durability Test Rig

• A dedicated bench for long‑term stability and accelerated stress testing. Allows parallel evaluation of multiple samples under identical conditions optimised for lifetime assessment and comparative degradation studies.
  • Configuration: 6 parallel test positions under identical conditions
  • Active area: 5 – 15 cm²
  • Operating ranges: 0 – 10 bar, Room Temperature – 120 °C

1. DEMO setup

• A robust setup for testing industrial‑relevant components and assemblies. Suitable for pilot- and demonstration-scale validation.
  • Power: Up to 3 kW
  • Active area: 1 to 10 cells of 50 – 150 cm²
  • Operational range: 0 to 40 bar, Room Temperature – 85°C
  • Control System: Industrial PLC-based.
  • Comprehensive sensoring:
    • Pressure, Temperature, Flow Rates (Q), Humidity (HTO)
    • Integrated Gas Chromatography (GC) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) capabilities.

b)    Other tools

1. Ex‑situ Characterization

• In-situ characerisation tools are complemented by ex-situ characterisation tools used before or after operation to determine physical, chemical, and transport properties
  • Water permeability (via Water filtration unit)
  • IEC measurement (via titration)
  • Capillary Flow Porometry (CFP) (via Porolux) to determine:
    • First Bubble Point (FBP)
    • Smallest pore size (SP)
    • Mean Flow Pore diameter (MFP)
    • Gas permeability (GP)
  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
  • Hg porosimetry measurements
  • Thermogravimetric analysis
  • Tensile strength measurements

1. Component development capabilities

• Integrated in-house tools for the rapid design, fabrication, and optimization of electrochemical components for hydrogen production:
  • Electrodes
  • Membranes / Separators
  • Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs)

Participating in FL/B/EU funded projects with H2 related research

• Hydrogen-Ammonia for Cement Industry (2026) – New project targeting H₂ and ammonia integration in cement production.
• INTENZIFHY – Development of next-gen ZIRFON membranes for green H₂ production under intermittent electrolyzer operation (VLAIO).
• HYDRA – High-throughput hydrogen production using dry cathode alkaline electrolysis (Moonshot LIS).
• HERAQCLES – Advanced AEM electrolyzers focusing on reliability, quality, circularity, low LCOH, efficiency, and scalability (Horizon Europe; Schaeffler, Michelin, VITO, HyGear, CNR, Monolithos, Exentis, John Cockerill).
• H2-MHytic – Membrane-integrated nanomesh technology for hydrogen production (VLAIO SBO; VITO, imec, Ghent University).
• HEMEL – Next-gen HEM electrolyzers using nanomesh electrodes and hydroxyl exchange membranes for high-performance green H₂ (VLAIO; Hyve, Bekaert, Colruyt, DEME, imec, John Cockerill, VITO).
• NEXTH2gen – Next-generation electrolyzer combining novel membranes with high-performance nanomesh electrodes.
• ELYINTEGRATION – Grid-integrated, multi-megawatt high-pressure alkaline electrolyzers for large-scale energy applications (Horizon 2020, FCH JU).
• REselyser – Pressurized alkaline electrolyzers producing hydrogen from renewable sources with high efficiency (FP7, FCH JU).
• PERFORM (PowerPlatform, 2020) – Platform infrastructure for selective electrochemical conversions.
• PROCURA – Power-to-X and carbon capture roadmap for Belgium.
• BREGILAB – Pathways for large-scale renewable electricity expansion in Belgium.
• CO₂-to-Ethylene (2026) – Innovation project for CO₂ conversion to ethylene.
• TRAMPOLINe – Training program for industrial adoption of microbial electrochemical technologies.
• FUELS-C – Cost- and energy-efficient platform producing liquid and gaseous biofuels from biogenic residues.
• VIVALDI – Innovative bio-based CO₂ valorization chains to produce organic acids.
• CLUE – Clustered CO₂ electrolysers for ethylene production.
• ECOMATES – Electrochemical CO₂ conversion using selective bimetallic materials and novel process design.
• Bac-To-Fuel – Bacterial conversion of CO₂ and renewable H₂ into biofuels.
• BIORECO₂VER – Biological CO₂ conversion into chemical building blocks.
• CO₂M – Low-temperature electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to methanol.
• CATCO₂RE – Solar energy-driven CO₂ conversion to chemicals and fuels.
• CO₂PERATE – Catalytic conversion of CO₂ to formic acid.
• E2C (Interreg) – Electrons-to-chemicals platform for high-value products.

Main relevant publications

1. Li, J.Z. et al., 2025 – High-entropy (FeCoNiCuMn)₂O₃ on MXene for efficient and durable H₂ evolution in saline water.
2. Nguyen, T.H.T. et al., 2025 – Pd-modified mesoporous CuO shifts CO₂ electroreduction selectivity toward C₂+ and H₂ formation.
3. Hu, W.J. et al., 2025 – H₂ formation from electrochemical restructuring of H₂O₂-activated Cu₂-xSe pre-catalysts.
4. Anzola-Rojas, M.D. et al., 2025 – Microbial electrolysis of sugarcane vinasse for single-chamber H₂ production.
5. Zhang, X.S. et al., 2025 – Cu/Co nanoheterostructures for hybrid water splitting; H₂ generation driven by alcohol oxidation.
6. Zulfiqar, R. et al., 2025 – DFT study of reversible H₂ adsorption on B₂CO monolayers.
7. Qayyum, M.N. et al., 2025 – Alkali-metal-decorated B₄C₃ for reversible H₂ storage, gravimetric density up to 7.19 wt%.
8. Wang, Y. et al., 2024 – MoₓC/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites for noble-metal-free photocatalytic H₂ from ethanol.
9. Wang, Y. et al., 2024 – Metal-free dual S-scheme heterojunctions enhancing charge separation for H₂ evolution.
10. Chanda, D. et al., 2024 – Carbon-bonded BiOx on Ni foam for gas-phase H₂ and formic acid from CO₂ electrolysis.
11. Ye, K. et al., 2023 – Oxygen-group-based amorphous nanomaterials for electrocatalytic H₂ generation from water.
12. Nguyen, T.H.T. et al., 2023 – Co₃-xFeₓO₄ inverse opals as bifunctional OER/HER catalysts for water splitting.
13. Elisiário, M.P. et al., 2023 – Microbial H₂ production from syngas using Clostridium autoethanogenum.
14. Prato, R.A. et al., 2019 – Gas diffusion electrodes for H₂ evolution.
15. Van Dael, M. et al., 2018 – Microbial power-to-gas conversion for H₂ production.