Laser processing for the green energy of the future: hydrogen from electrolysis

Laser drilling of titanium components in hydrogen electrolysers

High-precision UKP laser processing of titanium components

Drilling speed of up to 5,000 Hz

Freedom in hole positioning & handling of complex components

Hydrogen electrolysis: Laser drilling of titanium plates

Hydrogen is a key energy source of the future. Electrolysis uses electricity to split water into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂). The most important processes are PEM and alkaline electrolysis.

PEM (proton exchange membrane) electrolysis uses an acidic electrolyte that is highly efficient but corrosive. Alkaline electrolysis works with a basic solvent and is more cost-effective. Due to the aggressive conditions, titanium components are often used in PEM systems to increase the durability and lifetime of the components.

Titanium is ideal for laser processing with ultrashort pulse lasers, especially for high-precision drilling, cutting, or structuring processes. Due to their high complexity and technical requirements, the titanium components to be processed are often produced using 3D printing and then further machined using a subsequent laser processing step.

Functionalization through UKP processing for PEM-Systems

The following technical specifications are possible for laser drilling of electrolyzer plates:

Drilling speed: up to 5,000 Hz

Material thickness: 250 µm

Drill diameter: continuously adjustable, possible in the micrometer range (< 80 µm)

Drill spacing: 100 – 150 µm

Component refinement using ultrashort pulse laser processing can improve the functionality of electrolyzer components and reduce the achievable pore openings many times over compared to 3D printing through targeted drilling processes. The achievable drilling speeds of up to 5,000 holes per second contribute to the economical manufacturing process.