Celmet™, a Key Material for Efforts to Achieve a Decarbonized Society

Hydrogen has attracted much public attention in the initiative to realize a decarbonized society and carbon neutrality by 2050. This arises from its capacity to generate electricity through chemical reactions. Notably, hydrogen exhibits a remarkable energy density during combustion, and the resulting byproduct is water, which can be recycled. Importantly, these processes are entirely devoid of CO₂ emissions. In addition, hydrogen can be produced from water, thus high expectations are placed on hydrogen for its potential.

Hydrogen production systems and fuel cells are indispensable to realize a hydrogen society. Celmet^TM, a porous metal developed by the Sumitomo Electric Group, is expected to be used as an electrode material for hydrogen production systems, which generate hydrogen through electrolysis of water, and as components for fuel cells. Recently, Celmet^TM, which has a 50-year history, has been used for nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries installed in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The Sumitomo Electric Group has maintained stable supply and contributed to reducing the environmental impact on society. This article reports the advantages of Celmet^TM, its background, and its huge potential in the global market in the future.