A team of researchers at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) led by Dr. Jung Doo-hwan of High Temperature Energy Conversion Laboratory has established the system to transfer the core technology used to manufacture fuel cell bipolar plates for power generation and for buildings and the system to mass-produce carbon composite bipolar plates.

This is the first time in Korea when Korean researchers have developed the core technology for carbon composite bipolar plates*, one of the key components of fuel cells but heavily dependent upon imports. This core technology has laid the foundation for technology transfer to SMEs and, based on continuous cooperation with the SMEs, for development of domestic technologies without dependence upon foreign technologies.
* A bipolar plate is a component that separates the cathode (hydrogen) and anode (oxygen) of a fuel cell, serves as a flow field for delivering hydrogen and oxygen supplied to electrodes, and sends the electric current generated by the electrochemical reaction to the load. In general, carbon-based metal plates or metal plates coated with precious metal are used for bipolar plates as they have excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength and are highly resistant to corrosion.

In September 2021, CNT Solution and KISTI won the ‘Certification of New Technology’ by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the ‘technology to manufacture the CNT composite material for hydrogen fuel cells with improved electrical conductivity and strength.’ Meanwhile, CNT Solution made a superb achievement of becoming one of the one hundred small hidden champions appointed by the Ministry of SMEs and Start-ups.