International collaborations

ACTNXT

The mission of the project is to support green transition through the development and validation of new energy systems. Large-scale Research Infrastructures (RIs) can play a major role in this development by translating model materials or components into tested and validated proof-of-concepts for the benefit of both research, industry and society in general. The ACTNXT project pools together RIs already performing relevant R&D within the field of hydrogen and Power-to-X (PtX) industry, to develop a set of new instrumentation solutions tuned to provide crucial knowledge essential to testing novel concepts, component designs and materials, and understand their behavior in representative conditions.

OBJECTIVES

ACTNXT aims at bridging the gap between materials research and Power-to-X (PtX) industry using neutron and X-ray science. To do so, the Project will focus on four research areas to:

  • design, develop, and validate advanced test benches for operando, multi-modal studies of fuel cell and electrolyzer componentss
  • develop advanced instrumentation for in-situ studies of materials exposed to hydrogen under varying pressures and temperatures
  • develop integrated instrumentation and data pipelines for rapid characterization of materials central to the hydrogen economy
  • develop advanced instrumentation for neutron imaging analysis of reactive and hazardous materials, extending applications beyond fuel cells and electrolyzers to include catalyst design, hydrogenation reactors, storage materials, and liquid organic hydrogen carriers

CERIC’S ROLE

CERIC contributes to the project through the advanced analytical techniques and expertise of two of its Partner Facilities — TU Graz and Charles University Prague — both participating as CERIC’s Affiliated Entities. In particular, CERIC is responsible of the development of specialized instrumentation necessary to perform in-situ studies of materials exposed to hydrogen in different pressure and temperature environments (WP 3). Moreover, CERIC has an active role in other technical WPs, as well as in Project Management and Communications activities.

Visit the project’s website