Development of membrane materials for hydrogen energy

1、 Research background and overview

As a clean, efficient and sustainable secondary energy carrier, hydrogen energy plays a key role in the transformation of the global energy structure and the realization of the "double carbon" goal. The hydrogen energy industry chain mainly includes three links: hydrogen production, storage and transportation, and application. As the core component of the hydrogen energy system, membrane materials directly determine the system efficiency, stability, and cost. With the intensification of the global energy crisis and the improvement of environmental protection requirements, the hydrogen energy industry has ushered in unprecedented development opportunities, but also faces the challenges of technical bottlenecks and cost pressures.

The applications of membrane materials in the field of hydrogen energy mainly include proton exchange membrane (PEM) for fuel cells, membrane for hydrogen production from electrolytic water (including PEM, AEM and alkaline membrane) and separation membrane materials related to hydrogen storage and transportation. The performance of these membrane materials directly affects the overall efficiency of the hydrogen energy system. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the development status, technical characteristics and market trends of membrane materials for hydrogen energy is of great significance for the formulation of scientific and reasonable hydrogen industry policies.

The following will focus on the comprehensive analysis of membrane materials for hydrogen energy, focusing on the material performance, preparation process, cost structure and commercialization progress, while taking into account the domestic and foreign market dynamics for rough sorting.

It is inevitable that there are omissions and deficiencies in the simple arrangement. Please supplement 

1. development status of hydrogen energy industry

The global hydrogen energy industry is at a stage of rapid development. As of May 2025, China has built more than 1.2gw of green hydrogen projects to produce hydrogen, and the scale under construction and planning is more than 110gw. At the policy level, in the first four months of 2025, 22 national ministries and commissions issued hydrogen energy related policies, and 86 special hydrogen energy policies were issued in 23 provinces and cities across the country to promote industrial development from technology research, financial subsidies, demonstration projects and other aspects.

In the application field, breakthroughs have been made in the fields of chemical industry, petroleum refining and chemical industry, iron and steel metallurgy, transportation and other fields, among which synthetic ammonia and methanol in the chemical industry are the main consumption scenarios. In the international market, the EU's "hydrogen backbone network" plan predicts that 23000 kilometers of transnational hydrogen transmission network will be formed by 2030; The inflation reduction act of the United States provides a subsidy of $3 per kilogram of green hydrogen to directly stimulate the investment boom; The 10000 ton MCH shipping project, which is jointly operated by Kawasaki heavy industries of Japan and Chinese enterprises, will be put into operation in 2027 to realize the normalization of Sino Japanese hydrogen energy trade. 

2. key role of membrane materials in hydrogen energy

As the core component of the hydrogen energy system, the performance of membrane materials directly determines the efficiency, life and cost of the system. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) is a key component in fuel cell, and its performance directly affects the power density and durability of the fuel cell; In the hydrogen production system with electrolytic water, the efficiency and stability of the electrolytic cell are determined by the membrane or ion exchange membrane; In the process of hydrogen storage and transportation, membrane materials are used for the separation, purification and safe storage of hydrogen.

According to the report of relevant institutions, hydrogen energy utilization first requires the preparation of hydrogen, and the separation of hydrogen from gases with complex composition is indispensable. In addition, some application scenarios, such as hydrogen fuel cells, require high purity of hydrogen, and hydrogen purification technology is also required. Therefore, the technological progress of membrane materials plays an important role in supporting the development of the entire hydrogen energy industry.

2、 Analysis of membrane materials for fuel cells

1. Current status of proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) is the core component of fuel cell. Its performance directly affects the power density, efficiency and durability of fuel cell. At present, the commercial PEM is mainly based on perfluorosulfonic acid polymer, such as DuPont's Nafion membrane, but this kind of material has high cost and complex preparation process.

The latest progress in 2025 shows that domestic enterprises have made significant breakthroughs in PEM technology. Shandong Dongyue future hydrogen materials Co., Ltd. has built a full industry chain production base, and its proton conductivity of fuel cell membrane products has reached 0.15s/cm, which has been applied in batch loading in 2024. Suzhou Kerun new materials Co., Ltd. has conquered the synthesis technology of perfluorosulfonic acid resin and greatly improved the localization rate of PEM.

According to the announcement issued by the National Standards Committee in May 2025, the national standard of proton exchange membrane for hydrogen production from electrolytic water will be formally implemented from September 1, 2025. The standard is under the jurisdiction of the National Technical Committee for separation membrane standardization, and jointly drafted by Shandong Dongyue future hydrogen materials Co., Ltd., Shanghai yihydrogen Technology Co., Ltd., and China shipbuilding (Handan) Perry Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd., which marks an important step in the standardization of PEM in China.

2. Material properties and preparation process

The key performance indicators of PEM include proton conductivity, mechanical strength, chemical stability and thermal stability. At present, the proton conductivity of PEM produced by domestic enterprises has approached the international advanced level, but there is still a gap in the long-term durability.

In terms of preparation process, the continuous production process of perfluorosulfonic acid membrane is the focus of current research. The continuous production process developed by Kerun and other enterprises is expected to reduce the cost of PEM from 2000 yuan/m ² to 800 yuan/m ², significantly improving its market competitiveness. In addition, the research and development of enhanced PEM has also made progress. The enhanced products launched by Dongyue future hydrogen energy and other enterprises have significantly improved in mechanical strength and chemical stability.

In terms of material innovation, non fluoropolymer PEM has attracted attention due to its low cost and simple synthesis process. By introducing new functional groups and optimizing the polymer structure, researchers have developed a non fluorinated PEM with high proton conductivity and good stability, which provides a new possibility for reducing the cost of fuel cells.

3. Cost analysis and market status

The cost of PEM is mainly composed of raw materials, production process and scale effect. At present, the production cost of PEM in China is still high, especially perfluorosulfonic acid PEM, which limits its large-scale application to a certain extent.

Market data show that in 2024, the localization rate of proton exchange membrane for hydrogen production from PEM in China was less than 20%, and most high-end PEMs still rely on imports. However, with the technological progress and capacity expansion of domestic enterprises, this situation is changing. Dongyue future hydrogen energy, Kerun new materials and other enterprises have realized the large-scale production of PEM. It is estimated that by 2026, the localization rate of domestic PEM will exceed 50%.

In terms of market size, the global PEM market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 15%, from about US $2billion in 2025 to more than US $4billion in 2030. As one of the world's largest fuel cell markets, China's demand for PEM will continue to grow, providing broad development space for domestic enterprises.

4. Progress and challenges of commercialization

In terms of commercial applications, PEM has been applied in batches in the field of fuel cell vehicles in China. In 2024, the sales of fuel cell vehicles equipped with domestic PEM exceeded 15000, and the cost decreased by 60% compared with 2020. The 200kW hydrogen fuel cell system developed by Weichai Power has achieved 10000 hours of durability, marking an important breakthrough in the long-term stability of the domestic PEM.

However, the commercialization of PEM still faces some challenges. The first is the cost problem. Although technological progress has reduced the production cost, it still has no obvious advantages compared with traditional energy; The second is the durability problem. The performance of the existing PEM will gradually decline in the long-term operation process, affecting the service life of the fuel cell; Thirdly, the large-scale production capacity. At present, the domestic PEM production capacity can not meet the rapidly growing market demand.

In terms of future development trend, improving proton conductivity, prolonging service life and reducing cost will be the main direction of PEM research. At the same time, the development of new non fluoropolymer PEM and composite structure PEM is also an important trend. These new materials are expected to maintain high performance while significantly reducing costs.

3、 Analysis of membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolytic water

1) Diaphragm for hydrogen production from alkaline electrolytic water

Alkaline electrolyzed water hydrogen production technology is one of the most mature and widely used hydrogen production methods at present, with shipments accounting for more than 91% in 2024. In alkaline electrolyzers, the diaphragm is one of the key components, which is mainly used to prevent gas mixing and allow ion conduction.

At present, the diaphragms for alkaline electrolyzers have gone through the development process from the first generation of asbestos diaphragms to the second generation of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) diaphragms, and then to the third generation of composite diaphragms. Asbestos diaphragms have withdrawn from the historical stage due to environmental protection problems. PPS diaphragms are the mainstream products in the current market, while composite diaphragms represent the future development direction.

In terms of technical progress, the third generation composite diaphragm independently developed by Liyuan technology adopts a uniform pore bubble point membrane structure, which can effectively improve the bubble point pressure and control the permeability of hydrogen and oxygen. The product has been officially put into production in March 2025. Through internal structure design, new coating film-forming process and domestic manufacturing of raw materials, the cell voltage can reach 1.77v at 6000a/m ² current density. It can be used in atmospheric and pressurized alkaline hydrogen production systems, and its performance has reached the international level.

2) Hydrogen production by water electrolysis with proton exchange membrane (PEM)

PEM electrolytic water hydrogen production has the advantages of high efficiency, fast response speed and high hydrogen purity, which is an important technical route for green hydrogen production in the future. In PEM electrolyzer, proton exchange membrane is the core component, and its performance directly affects the efficiency and stability of the electrolyzer.

In 2025, PEM electrolytic water hydrogen production technology has made significant progress. At SNEC 2025, many enterprises released PEM hydrogen production equipment for large-scale green hydrogen production. Trinasolar hydrogen released MW PEM hydrogen production equipment, 10MW alkaline hydrogen production equipment and MW container hydrogen production system to the world. Sinohydro technology and other enterprises have launched 500nm ³/h PEM hydrogen production products, and the technical level has been continuously improved.

In terms of materials, the release of the national standard proton exchange membrane for hydrogen production from electrolytic water will promote the standardized application of PEM in the field of electrolytic water. This standard specifies the classification, marking, technical requirements, test methods, inspection rules, marking, packaging, transportation and storage of proton exchange membranes for hydrogen production from electrolyzed water, and is applicable to the scientific research, production, use and management of proton exchange membranes for hydrogen production from electrolyzed water. 

3) Anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysis of water for hydrogen production

Anion exchange membrane hydrogen production by electrolysis of water (aem-we) is regarded as the key fulcrum to leverage the trillion hydrogen energy market due to its advantages of low cost and coupling renewable energy. Compared with PEM, AEM can use non noble metal catalysts, significantly reducing the cost of electrocatalysts, while avoiding the dependence of PEM on noble metal catalysts.

In 2025, AEM hydrogen production technology is in a critical transition period of commercialization breakthrough and large-scale application. The academician sunlicheng team of artificial photosynthesis and solar fuel center of West Lake University successfully developed a new type of polyarylmethylpiperidine (PAMP) anion exchange membrane. Through the unique "suspension structure" design, it significantly improved the alkali stability and mechanical properties of AEM, and made the electrolytic water hydrogen production equipment operate stably for more than 1500 hours under the industrial current density, and the relevant performance indicators reached the international leading level.

In addition, the high thermal conductivity hydroxyl ion exchange membrane developed by the Tianjin University team has also made important breakthroughs. The study effectively solved the stability problem of AEM in high temperature and strong alkali environment by improving the thermal conductivity of the membrane. After testing, the stability of the thermal conductivity hem electrolyzer was 6 times higher than that of the commercial membrane, and the working time was more than 1000 hours. This work first revealed the key role of heat transfer properties of hem on the in-situ stability of membrane, and opened up a new idea for the design of durability hemwe.

In terms of commercialization progress, in April 2025, Suqian green energy hydrogen released the first 1MW AEM (anion exchange membrane) electrolytic cell in China, achieving a historic leap from kilowatt level to megawatt level. The product adopts wide film technology, and the effective working area is increased to 1.6 square meters, which is 60% higher than that of similar products of German hydrogenics company; The patented runner frame design is adopted. Under the premise of maintaining 3Mpa pressure bearing capacity, the weight of the equipment is reduced by 35% compared with the traditional structure, and the transportation cost is reduced by 40%; The fully automatic snap on process is adopted to improve the assembly efficiency by 50%.

4) Material performance comparison and cost analysis

Different types of membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolytic water have significant differences in performance and cost. In terms of material properties, PEM has the highest proton conductivity and current density, but also the highest cost; Alkaline diaphragm has the lowest cost, but its efficiency and service life are relatively short; AEM has achieved a good balance between cost and performance, especially in the use of non noble metal catalysts.

The cost analysis showed that the localization rate of PPS diaphragm for alkaline hydrogen production was nearly 50%, and the cost was relatively low; Composite diaphragms have been applied in small batches, and the cost is gradually reducing. The localization rate of PEM hydrogen production proton exchange membrane is less than 20%, and the cost is high. However, with the technological progress and large-scale production, the cost is expected to decrease significantly. AEM has a relatively high cost due to its immature technology, but with the improvement of materials and processes in the future, there is a huge room for cost reduction.

In terms of specific data, the large-scale production of composite diaphragm reduced the cost to 200 yuan/m ², and promoted the price of electrolytic cell to exceed 500 yuan/kw. The cost of proton exchange membrane for PEM hydrogen production is high, and the continuous production process is expected to reduce the cost from 2000 yuan/m ² to 800 yuan/m ². Although there is no exact data on the cost of AEM at present, with technological progress and large-scale production, the potential for cost reduction is huge. 

5) Market and commercialization progress of membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolyzed water

The market of membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolytic water is in a rapid development stage. Due to its mature technology and low cost, the alkaline electrolyzer currently occupies a dominant position, accounting for more than 91% of the shipments in 2024. PEM electrolyzer shipments were nearly 90mw, with a year-on-year increase of 150%, and the market share rose to 8%, showing a rapid growth trend. Although AEM electrolyzer started late, it has developed rapidly. The first megawatt demonstration project in China has been launched, and qingneng Co., Ltd. and other enterprises have launched MW products.

In terms of commercial application, domestic enterprises have realized large-scale production in the field of alkaline electrolyzer diaphragm. Liyuan technology has completed the establishment, product development and batch manufacturing of product systems such as membrane electrodes, bipolar plates, stacks, multi-in-one controllers, systems, energy supply and power generation, and third-generation composite diaphragms. In the PEM field, Dongyue future hydrogen energy, Kerun new materials and other enterprises have realized the large-scale production of PEM, and the performance has been continuously improved. In the field of AEM, the PAMP film developed by West Lake University has achieved mass production at the square meter level with different thicknesses, covering the needs of the whole system from 20 to 80 microns.

In terms of future development trend, with technological progress and cost reduction, membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolytic water will be developed in the direction of high efficiency, long life and low cost. Alkaline electrolyzers will be developed in the direction of large scale, high power density and low power consumption. For example, Shuangliang new energy launched 5000NM ³/h electrolyzers with a current density of 10600a/m ². PEM electrolyzer will focus on cost reduction and quality improvement to improve the localization rate. AEM electrolyzer will focus on breaking through the problem of membrane material durability and promoting commercial application.

4、 Analysis of membrane materials related to hydrogen storage and transportation

1. Membrane materials for hydrogen separation and purification

Hydrogen separation and purification is a key technology in hydrogen storage and transportation, especially in applications such as fuel cells that require high hydrogen purity, purification technology is indispensable. Membrane separation technology has become an important method for hydrogen separation and purification due to its advantages of high efficiency, low energy consumption and simple operation.

In terms of materials, palladium and palladium alloy membranes have incomparable advantages in hydrogen separation and purification due to their high selective permeability to hydrogen. Palladium membrane is prone to hydrogen embrittlement when used at low temperature, while palladium alloy membrane can solve this problem to a certain extent. Palladium alloy membranes mainly include palladium based binary alloy membranes and palladium based ternary alloy membranes. The former includes PD Cu, PD AG, PD Pt, PD Au, etc., while the latter includes PD Ag-M, PD cu-m, etc.

The working principle of palladium and palladium alloy membranes for hydrogen separation and purification is that hydrogen molecules are adsorbed on the surface of palladium and palladium alloy membranes, dissociated to form hydrogen atoms, and the hydrogen atoms enter the palladium lattice. The palladium lattice allows the hydrogen atoms to move rapidly, diffuse from the high concentration side to the low concentration side, and then precipitate from the membrane to re combine to form hydrogen molecules, so as to realize hydrogen separation and purification.

With the progress of technology, the performance of palladium and palladium alloy membranes has been continuously improved. By depositing palladium and palladium alloy membranes on the surface of porous support matrix materials, palladium composite membranes can avoid hydrogen embrittlement, impurity gas poisoning and other problems, and improve the hydrogen permeability. In addition, the development of new membrane materials such as metal organic framework (MOF) materials and nanocomposite membranes has provided new possibilities for hydrogen separation and purification.

2. Membrane materials for liquid organic hydrogen storage (LOHC)

Liquid organic hydrogen storage (LOHC) technology is a technology that uses renewable energy for hydrogen transportation, storage and utilization. It has the advantage of rapid storage and utilization of hydrogen in the absence of transportation infrastructure. Membrane based LOHC system is a promising technology because it can store and release hydrogen through electrochemical dynamic operation.

In LOHC system, anion exchange membrane (AEM) is widely used as electrolyte in electrochemical devices, and its performance directly affects the performance of LOHC. Therefore, the development of ionomers with high anion conductivity is very important to improve the conversion of liquid toluene to methylcyclohexane by electrochemical reduction.

The research shows that imidazoline based anion exchange membrane has a good application prospect in the electrochemical conversion of liquid organic hydrogen storage carriers. This kind of membrane material can achieve good conductivity and chemical stability of hydroxyl ions by using the pore filling method on the porous polyethylene substrate.

In terms of technological progress, liquid organic hydrogen storage technology has made significant breakthroughs in 2025. The new carrier material can be safely stored and transported under normal temperature and pressure, and the energy density can be increased to 6.5wt%. In addition, the development of new membrane materials also provides support for LOHC system. For example, SPAES membrane can improve the hydrogen storage efficiency of LOHC system.

In terms of commercialization, the global liquid organic hydrogen storage (LOHC) market value in 2024 was 328million US dollars, and it is expected to reach 2.027 billion US dollars by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 30.1%. In 2024, toluene based hydrogen storage materials accounted for about 64%, cyclohexane accounted for 28%, and the rest were new carriers such as N - ethyl carbazole. In the next few years, with the breakthrough in the research and development of new materials, it is expected that the proportion of cyclohexane and other efficient carriers will gradually increase, so as to improve the overall hydrogen storage efficiency and reduce the cost.

3. Membrane materials for high pressure gaseous hydrogen storage

High pressure gaseous hydrogen storage is the most commonly used hydrogen storage method at present. In 2025, the high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage technology has realized the commercialization of 70MPa on-board hydrogen storage system, and the carbon fiber winding process has reduced the weight of the storage tank by 30%. In the high-pressure hydrogen storage system, membrane materials are mainly used for hydrogen separation and purification and safety monitoring.

In terms of materials, high-efficiency membrane materials play a key role in the inner membrane materials of high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks, which can improve the storage density and transportation safety of hydrogen. The research and development of new membrane materials continue to improve the performance of hydrogen storage systems, such as high selectivity and high permeability composite membrane materials, which can improve the hydrogen storage efficiency while ensuring safety.

In terms of technical progress, researchers have developed a variety of membrane materials suitable for high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage. For example, polyimide membranes with high mechanical strength and chemical stability, and zeolite membranes with good gas separation performance. These materials can effectively improve the safety and efficiency of the hydrogen storage system and reduce the risk of leakage.

In terms of future development trend, with the progress of materials science, new high-efficiency membrane materials will continue to emerge, providing stronger support for high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage. By introducing automation and intelligent technologies, such as microfluidic technology and 3D printing, gas membrane components with complex structures can be manufactured, which can further improve separation efficiency and reduce production costs.

4. Membrane materials for solid state hydrogen storage

Solid state hydrogen storage is a hydrogen storage technology with high hydrogen storage density and safety, which represents an important development direction of hydrogen storage technology in the future. In the solid-state hydrogen storage system, membrane materials are mainly used to control the adsorption and desorption process of hydrogen to improve the efficiency and safety of hydrogen storage.

In terms of technical progress, in 2025, important progress has been made in the research of solid hydrogen storage materials. The hydrogen storage density of Mg based alloy reached 7.6wt%, and the hydrogen charging and discharging temperature decreased to 180 ℃. In addition, the development of new membrane materials also provides support for solid-state hydrogen storage, such as composite membrane materials with high ionic conductivity and chemical stability, which can effectively control the adsorption and desorption process of hydrogen.

In terms of materials, researchers have developed a variety of membrane materials suitable for solid-state hydrogen storage. For example, palladium alloy membranes with high hydrogen permeability and ceramic membranes with good chemical stability. These materials can effectively improve the efficiency and safety of solid-state hydrogen storage system, and provide support for the commercial application of solid-state hydrogen storage technology.

In terms of commercialization progress, solid-state hydrogen storage technology is still in the development stage, but has begun to be applied in specific fields. For example, in distributed energy systems and specific vehicles, solid-state hydrogen storage systems have been put into trial use. With the progress of material technology and the reduction of cost, solid-state hydrogen storage is expected to achieve large-scale application in the next few years.

5、 Analysis of domestic and international market and competition pattern

1、 Domestic market status and competition pattern

The market of membrane materials for hydrogen energy in China is at a stage of rapid development. The localization rate of various membrane materials is constantly improving, and the technical level is constantly improving. In the field of PEM for fuel cells, enterprises such as Shandong Dongyue future hydrogen materials Co., Ltd. and Suzhou Kerun new materials Co., Ltd. have built a production base for the whole industrial chain, the product performance has been continuously improved, and some products have been batch loaded.

In the field of membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolytic water, domestic enterprises have also made significant progress. The third generation composite diaphragm independently developed by Liyuan technology has been officially put into production in March 2025, and its performance is comparable to the international level. Pamp-aem developed by West Lake University has achieved mass production at the square meter level, covering the needs of the whole system from 20 to 80 microns. In addition, the release of the national standard proton exchange membrane for hydrogen production from electrolytic water will also promote the standardized application of PEM in the field of electrolytic water.

In terms of market pattern, the domestic hydrogen energy membrane material market presents a diversified competitive situation. The localization rate of alkaline hydrogen production PPS diaphragm is nearly 50%, and the composite diaphragm is applied in small batch; The localization rate of PEM hydrogen proton exchange membrane is less than 20%, and Dongyue future hydrogen energy and other enterprises launch enhanced products. In terms of gas diffusion layer, the localization rate of titanium felt for PEM electrolyzer is over 50%, and the optimization of coating thickness is the research direction.

From the perspective of enterprise competition pattern, domestic enterprises form the full chain capacity of "hydrogen production, storage, transportation and filling" through vertical integration. Sinopec, national energy group and other central enterprises have formed the full chain capacity of "hydrogen production, storage, transportation and filling" through vertical integration. The total planned capacity in 2025 will account for 60% of the total market scale; Among the private enterprises, Hongda Xingye and satellite chemistry, relying on the advantage of hydrogen by-product of chemical industry, focus on the layout of benzene hydrogen storage materials, and their product costs are reduced by 40% compared with the traditional route.

2、 International market status and competition pattern

The international market for membrane materials for hydrogen energy is mature, and the leading technology enterprises are mainly concentrated in Europe, America, Japan and other regions. In the field of PEM for fuel cells, the Nafion membrane of DuPont is still the leading product in the market, but with the technological progress of Chinese enterprises, the market pattern is changing.

In the field of membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolyzed water, international enterprises such as German hydrogenics and American plug power are in a leading position in PEM and AEM cell technology. For example, the effective working area of AEM electrolyzer of German hydrogenics company is 1.0 square meters, while Chinese enterprises have launched products with an effective working area of 1.6 square meters, exceeding the international level.

In the field of hydrogen storage and transportation membrane materials, international enterprises have also made significant progress. For example, Japanese enterprises are in a leading position in liquid organic hydrogen storage (LOHC) technology and have developed a variety of efficient hydrogen storage carrier materials. American and European enterprises also have technological advantages in high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage and solid hydrogen storage membrane materials.

Market data show that the global liquid organic hydrogen storage (LOHC) market value in 2024 was 328million US dollars, and it is expected to reach 2.027 billion US dollars by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 30.1%. In terms of regional layout, the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta have gathered 75% of the country's organic liquid hydrogen projects with perfect Petrochemical infrastructure and hydrogen energy application scenarios.

3、 Technology gap at home and abroad and progress of localization

There is a certain technical gap in the field of membrane materials for hydrogen energy at home and abroad, but the gap is narrowing. In terms of PEM for fuel cells, domestic products have approached the international advanced level in key performance indicators such as proton conductivity, but there is still a gap in long-term durability. In terms of membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolytic water, domestic enterprises have achieved international leadership in the field of alkaline diaphragms. For example, the performance of the third generation of composite diaphragms of Liyuan technology has reached the international level; In the field of AEM, the PAMP membrane developed by West Lake University has exceeded the commercial piperion-a40 membrane in terms of stability; In the PEM field, although the localization rate is less than 20%, the technical level continues to improve.

In terms of localization progress, the localization rate of various membrane materials has been continuously improved. The localization rate of alkaline hydrogen production PPS diaphragm is nearly 50%, and the composite diaphragm is applied in small batch. The localization rate of PEM hydrogen proton exchange membrane is less than 20%, but Shandong Dongyue future hydrogen energy, Suzhou Kerun new materials and other enterprises have achieved large-scale production, and the performance has been continuously improved. Although AEM started late, it developed rapidly. The PAMP membrane developed by West Lake University has achieved mass production at the square meter level.

In terms of technological breakthroughs, domestic scientific research institutions and enterprises have made a number of innovative achievements in the field of membrane materials. Through density functional theory calculation, the team of academician sunlicheng of West Lake University found that connecting piperidine cations to the outside of the polymer backbone in a "suspended structure" can effectively inhibit the E2 reaction path and significantly improve the stability of AEM. The high thermal conductivity hydroxyl ion exchange membrane developed by Tianjin University team effectively solves the stability problem of AEM in high temperature and strong alkali environment by improving the thermal conductivity of the membrane.

In terms of future development trend, with the increase of R&D investment and the deepening of technology accumulation of domestic enterprises, the technology gap in the field of membrane materials for hydrogen energy at home and abroad will be further narrowed. Especially in emerging fields such as AEM and composite diaphragm, domestic enterprises are expected to overtake in curves and occupy a more important position in the international market.

6、 Policy analysis and suggestions

1. Comparison of hydrogen energy policies at home and abroad

The continuous optimization of the global hydrogen energy policy environment provides good policy support for the development of membrane materials for hydrogen energy. China's medium and long term plan for the development of hydrogen energy industry (2025-2035) clearly proposes to include organic liquid hydrogen in the national energy reserve system. In the first batch of hydrogen energy special projects of the national development and Reform Commission in 2024, the research and development of organic liquid hydrogen storage and transportation technology was supported by 1.2 billion yuan, driving social capital investment of more than 8billion yuan. The national standard of proton exchange membrane for hydrogen production from electrolytic water will be formally implemented on September 1st, 2025, which will promote the standardized application of PEM in the field of electrolytic water.

Internationally, the EU's "hydrogen backbone network" plan predicts that 23000 kilometers of transnational hydrogen transmission network will be formed by 2030. The inflation reduction act of the United States provides a subsidy of US $3 per kilogram of green hydrogen, which directly stimulates the investment boom. The 10000 ton MCH shipping project, which is jointly operated by Kawasaki heavy industries of Japan and Chinese enterprises, will be put into operation in 2027 to realize the normalization of Sino Japanese hydrogen energy trade.

In the direction of policy support, each country has its own focus. China focuses on supporting technology research and development and industrialization demonstration. For example, the medium and long term plan for the development of hydrogen energy industry (2025-2035) clearly proposes to include organic liquid hydrogen in the national energy reserve system. The United States uses economic means such as tax credits to stimulate market development. For example, the inflation Reduction Act provides a subsidy of $3 per kilogram for green hydrogen. The EU pays attention to infrastructure construction and transnational cooperation, such as the "hydrogen backbone network" plan.

In terms of policy effect, the policy support of various countries has promoted the rapid development of hydrogen energy industry. In 2024, the sales volume of fuel cell vehicles in China exceeded 15000, and the cost decreased by 60% compared with 2020. The global liquid organic hydrogen storage (LOHC) market is expected to reach US $2.027 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 30.1%. These data show that policy support has a significant role in promoting the development of hydrogen energy industry.

2. Positioning and policy impact of membrane materials in the hydrogen energy industry chain

As a key link in the hydrogen energy industry chain, the development of membrane materials is affected by both the upstream and downstream of the industry chain and the policy environment. In terms of industrial chain positioning, membrane materials are located in the midstream of the industrial chain. The upstream depends on the supply of raw materials and equipment, while the downstream serves hydrogen production, storage, transportation and application.

The impact of the policy on the development of membrane materials is mainly reflected in the following aspects: first, through financial subsidies and tax incentives and other economic means, reduce the research and development and production costs of membrane materials, and promote technological progress and commercial application. The second is to guide the R&D direction and market application of membrane materials by formulating technical standards and specifications, such as the release of the national standard proton exchange membrane for hydrogen production from electrolytic water. Third, create market demand for membrane materials and promote industrial development by supporting demonstration projects and infrastructure construction. Fourth, through strengthening international cooperation and exchange, promote technology introduction and innovation, and improve the international competitiveness of membrane materials.

In terms of specific policy recommendations, differentiated policy support measures can be taken for different types of membrane materials. For PEM for fuel cell, it is suggested to increase R&D investment, support key technology research, and improve localization rate and performance level. For membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolytic water, it is suggested to support large-scale production and demonstration application, reduce costs and improve market competitiveness. For hydrogen storage membrane materials, it is suggested to strengthen basic research and application research, develop new and efficient materials, and improve hydrogen storage efficiency and safety.

3. Policy suggestions on promoting the development of membrane materials for hydrogen energy

Based on the analysis of the development status and trend of membrane materials for hydrogen energy, the following policy suggestions are put forward:

Strengthen the top-level design and improve the policy system: formulate a special plan for the development of membrane materials for hydrogen energy, and clarify the development goals, key tasks and safeguard measures. We will improve the policy support system, integrate fiscal, tax, financial, land and other policy resources, and form a policy synergy. Strengthen departmental coordination and up-down linkage, and form a three-level linkage policy implementation mechanism at the national, local and enterprise levels.
Increase R&D investment and break through key technologies: set up national key R&D projects for membrane materials to support basic research and application research and break through key core technologies. Establish a collaborative innovation mechanism for industry university research and application, promote cooperation among scientific research institutions, universities and enterprises, and accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. Support the construction of membrane material innovation platform and Key Laboratory, and improve the R&D ability and level.
Promote industrial development and improve localization rate: support membrane material enterprises to expand production scale and increase production capacity and market share. Strengthen industrial chain coordination, support the localization of raw materials, equipment and parts, and improve the toughness and safety level of the industrial chain supply chain. Promote the demonstration application of membrane materials in the fields of fuel cells, hydrogen production by electrolytic water and hydrogen storage and transportation, and promote the commercialization and promotion.
Improve the standard system and standardize market development: accelerate the formulation of national and industrial standards for various membrane materials, and establish and improve the standard system. Strengthen the publicity, implementation and implementation of standards, and improve product quality and market competitiveness. Establish a membrane material testing and certification system to ensure product quality and safety.
Strengthen international cooperation and enhance international competitiveness: actively participate in international standard setting and technical exchanges, and improve international voice and influence. Support enterprises to "go global", expand the international market and improve international competitiveness. Strengthen cooperation with international scientific research institutions and enterprises, introduce advanced technology and management experience, and promote technological innovation and industrial upgrading.
Cultivate talents and support industrial development: strengthen the construction of membrane materials related disciplines and cultivate high-quality professionals. Improve the talent introduction and training mechanism, and attract excellent talents at home and abroad to join the membrane material industry. Establish and improve the talent evaluation and incentive mechanism to stimulate the innovative vitality of talents.

7、 Conclusion and Prospect

1. Summary of development status of membrane materials for hydrogen energy

As a key component in the hydrogen energy industry chain, membrane materials for hydrogen energy play an irreplaceable role in the fields of fuel cells, hydrogen production from electrolytic water, and hydrogen storage and transportation. In 2025, China has made significant progress in the field of membrane materials for hydrogen energy, and the technical level and localization rate of various membrane materials have been continuously improved.

In terms of PEM for fuel cells, Shandong Dongyue future hydrogen energy, Suzhou Kerun new materials and other enterprises have built a full industrial chain production base, and the proton conductivity of products has reached 0.15s/cm, which has been applied in batch loading in 2024. The release of the national standard proton exchange membrane for hydrogen production from electrolytic water will promote the standardized application of PEM in the field of electrolytic water.

In terms of membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolytic water, the alkaline membrane technology has achieved international leadership, and the performance of the third generation composite membrane developed by Liyuan technology has reached the international level. A major breakthrough has been made in the AEM technology. The PAMP membrane developed by West Lake University has significantly improved its stability through the "suspension structure" design, and has achieved mass production at the square meter level. PEM electrolyzed water hydrogen production technology has developed rapidly, and the market share has increased continuously.

In terms of membrane materials for hydrogen storage, liquid organic hydrogen storage (LOHC) technology has made a breakthrough. The new carrier materials can be safely stored and transported at room temperature and pressure, and the energy density has increased to 6.5wt%. Palladium and palladium alloy membranes play an important role in hydrogen separation and purification, providing technical support for hydrogen storage and transportation. Membrane materials for high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage and solid hydrogen storage have also made progress, improving the efficiency and safety of hydrogen storage.

2. Forecast of future development trend

In the future, membrane materials for hydrogen energy will be developed in the direction of high performance, low cost, long life and environmental friendliness. In terms of material innovation, new polymer materials, nanocomposites and metal organic framework (MOF) materials will provide new development directions for membrane materials. In the preparation process, continuous production, 3D printing and microfluidic technology will improve the production efficiency and performance consistency of membrane materials. In terms of application fields, membrane materials will be more widely used in fuel cells, hydrogen production by electrolytic water and hydrogen storage and transportation, so as to promote the development of hydrogen energy industry.

The specific prediction is as follows:

PEM for fuel cell: in the next five years, PEM will develop towards high proton conductivity, high chemical stability and long life. Non fluoropolymer PEM will make a breakthrough, reduce costs and improve market competitiveness. The localization rate of PEM will be significantly increased and is expected to exceed 50%.
Membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolyzed water: alkaline membrane will be developed in the direction of high electric density and low power consumption to improve the electrolytic efficiency. PEM hydrogen production from electrolyzed water will reduce costs and increase market share through technological progress and large-scale production. AEM hydrogen production from electrolyzed water will break through the problem of material stability, realize commercial application, and gradually increase the market share.
Hydrogen storage membrane materials: liquid organic hydrogen storage (LOHC) will become an important way of hydrogen storage in the future. New carrier materials and membrane materials will improve the efficiency and safety of hydrogen storage. Palladium and palladium alloy membranes will play a more important role in hydrogen separation and purification, and improve the purity and quality of hydrogen. Membrane materials for solid-state hydrogen storage will be developed with the development of solid-state hydrogen storage technology to improve the density and safety of hydrogen storage.
Market size forecast: the global hydrogen energy membrane material market will maintain rapid growth, and it is expected that the market size will exceed 10billion US dollars by 2030. China will become one of the world's largest markets for membrane materials, and its market share will continue to increase. Among all kinds of membrane materials, PEM and AEM will show a rapid growth trend, and the market share will continue to increase.
3. The importance and expected effect of policy support

Policy support plays an important role in promoting the development of membrane materials for hydrogen energy. Through policy guidance and support, the problems of technology, capital and market in the development of membrane materials can be effectively solved, and the industrialization process can be accelerated. The expected effects of specific policy support include:

Improve technical level: break through key core technologies and improve the performance and quality of membrane materials by increasing R&D investment and supporting industry university research cooperation. By 2030, the durability of PEM for fuel cell will reach more than 5000 hours, close to the international advanced level. The efficiency and service life of membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolytic water will be greatly improved and the cost of hydrogen production will be reduced.
Promote industrial development: increase the capacity and market share of membrane materials by supporting large-scale production and demonstration applications. By 2030, the localization rate of PEM for fuel cells will exceed 70%, and the localization rate of membrane materials for hydrogen production from electrolytic water will exceed 80%. The number and scale of membrane material enterprises will continue to expand, forming a number of leading enterprises with international competitiveness.
Cost reduction: reduce the cost of membrane materials through technological progress and large-scale production. By 2030, the cost of PEM is expected to drop from the current 2000 yuan/m ² to less than 500 yuan/m ², and the cost of AEM will also drop significantly. The cost reduction will promote the application of membrane materials in more fields and expand market demand.
Promote the development of hydrogen energy industry: by supporting the development of membrane materials, promote the development of fuel cells, hydrogen production by electrolytic water and hydrogen storage and transportation, and promote the overall development of hydrogen energy industry. By 2030, the scale of China's hydrogen energy industry chain will reach trillion yuan, becoming a new economic growth point. Hydrogen energy will occupy an important position in the energy structure and make an important contribution to the realization of the "double carbon" goal.
To sum up, as a key component in the hydrogen energy industry chain, the development of membrane materials for hydrogen energy is of great significance to the overall development of the hydrogen energy industry. By strengthening policy support, breaking through key technologies, promoting industrial development, improving the standard system, and strengthening international cooperation, we can effectively promote the development of membrane materials for hydrogen energy and provide strong support for the high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry.