The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS, President Choi Cheol-jin) has been designated as a national hydrogen research center and will begin in earnest to advance the domestic production of green hydrogen.

The Korea Materials Research Institute announced on the 23rd that it has been designated as the research institute in charge of 'anion exchange membrane electrolysis', one of the five major fields of the 'National Hydrogen Key Research Lab' launched by the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The National Hydrogen Key Research Lab was launched on the 17th by the Ministry of Science and ICT with the vision of achieving 100% domestic production of hydrogen technology by 2030 through concentrating national research capabilities, and will play a role in domestic production and standardization of technology, as well as international cooperation research.

The Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolysis Key Research Lab, led by the Materials Research Institute, aims to develop a large-capacity (1MW) system with the same efficiency as PEM electrolysis by 2035.

The anion exchange membrane electrolysis field designated by the Korea Institute of Chemical Engineering is one of the next-generation electrolysis technologies that can produce clean hydrogen at low cost using non-precious metals, and is a technology that will make it possible to increase the national energy self-sufficiency rate and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

For a long time, the Materials Research Institute has conducted research on the full cycle of non-precious metal-based anion exchange membrane electrolysis and has achieved remarkable results in related fields, such as securing non-precious metal catalysts, large-area electrodes, high-efficiency membrane electrode assemblies, and high-performance/long-life stack technologies.

Materials Research Institute is building a next-generation high-efficiency anion exchanger through the establishment of a national hydrogen R&D and commercialization platform.In order to lead the development of hydrogen electrolysis technology, the company plans to carry out tasks related to ▲development of hydrogen materials and component technology, ▲support for technology infrastructure and commercialization, ▲establishment of an international cooperative research system, and ▲establishment of a technology certification and standardization foundation.

To successfully carry out its mission, the Materials Research Institute plans to form a consortium with domestic and international anion exchange membrane electrolysis specialized industry-academia-research institutes and work closely with local governments.

Director Choi Chul-jin of the Korea Materials Research Institute said, “The designation as a national hydrogen key research laboratory was largely due to the promotion of the Korea Materials Research Institute to a research institute. As the need for domestic material technology development at the government level was continuously raised, the then-Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do, Park Wan-soo, who was a member of the National Assembly at the time, played a major role in organizing policy debates, publicizing them, and making efforts.” He added, “Even now, with the support of Gyeongsangnam-do and cities and counties, various projects, such as the establishment of a foundation for extreme material verification research, are being smoothly promoted. We will continue to devote ourselves to research to help hydrogen companies in the Gyeongsangnam-do region by supporting anion exchange membrane electrolysis technology.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Science and ICT designated the Korea Institute of Energy Research in the field of alkaline electrolysis, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology in the field of polymer electrolyte (PEM) electrolysis, the Korea Institute of Energy Research in the field of solid oxide electrolysis, and the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology in the field of liquid organic hydrogen carriers, in addition to the Korea Materials Research Institute.