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Hydrogen

Powering the Hydrogen Economy with ZEISS Microscopy

Fuel Cell Innovation Starts at the Microscopic Level

The Hydrogen Revolution Needs Better Materials Science

Hydrogen is hailed as the clean energy carrier of the future. But before it can power a greener world, major materials challenges need solving — especially when it comes to fuel cells and electrolyzers.

How do you understand aging processes inside a multi-material fuel cell? How can you analyze failure points without destroying the sample? And how do you scale insights from the nanoscale to the macroscale?

That’s where ZEISS steps in.

From 2D optical → 3D X-ray → Operando 4D imaging, showing fuel cell degradation over time.

Unlock Multi-Scale Insights with ZEISS Microscopy

Fuel cells are complex. Their performance depends on the fine details of structure, composition, and long-term behavior — all of which can only be revealed with high-end microscopy. ZEISS offers a complete portfolio that lets you:

  • Image in 2D, 3D, and 4D to uncover structure and behavior over time
  • Use non-destructive operando techniques to see how fuel cells behave during real-world operation
  • Correlate data from multiple modalities (X-ray, electron, light microscopy) for richer analysis

Whether you’re developing next-gen PEM fuel cells or studying electrolyzer membranes, ZEISS tools give you the precision and scale to drive innovation forward.

Materials insight = performance breakthroughs.

With ZEISS X-ray microscopy, we can visualize aging processes in electrolyzers in a way we never could before.

Customer name Acting Department Head, Forschungszentrum Jülich

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Customer Spotlight: Forschungszentrum Jülich

At Germany’s Forschungszentrum Jülich, scientists are tackling one of the biggest roadblocks in the hydrogen economy: degradation. Their research focuses on how electrolyzers age — and how to extend their life.

By using the ZEISS Xradia 620 Versa, they can see inside the multi-layered structure of an electrolyzer non-destructively, in 3D, and even as it operates. This real-time insight helps them identify early-stage issues and optimize designs faster.

Side-by-side comparison of traditional microscopy workflows vs ZEISS correlative approach.

Your Microscopy Workflow — Connected and Scalable

The ZEISS advantage isn’t just in the hardware. It’s in the workflow.

  • Start with optical microscopy to survey your sample
  • Zoom in with X-ray or electron microscopy for high-res structural detail
  • Layer on spectroscopy and analytics for chemical and material insights
  • Use AI-driven software to connect data points and generate actionable reports

From lab to production line, ZEISS connects your microscopy data seamlessly.

Why ZEISS for Hydrogen Materials Research?

  • Trusted by top research institutions and labs worldwide
  • Designed for multi-material, multi-layered fuel cell analysis
  • Accelerates failure analysis, QC, and R&D
  • Supports industry standards in energy materials science
  • Backed by expert technical support and global service

Whether you're a researcher or an industrial innovator, ZEISS tools help you move from questions to answers — faster.

Ready to See What You’ve Been Missing?

Your materials hold the key to better fuel cells. ZEISS helps you unlock their secrets.

PICK ONE OF THESE OPTIONS

[Request a Demo] — See ZEISS technology in action with your samples

[Download the Whitepaper] — Get detailed insights into multi-scale fuel cell analysis

[Talk to an Expert] — Get tailored advice for your research or application

[Watch the Full Customer Story] — See how ZEISS is powering real-world breakthroughs

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Let’s Push Hydrogen Innovation Further — Together

The materials science community plays a critical role in building a hydrogen-powered future. ZEISS is here to equip you with the tools to move faster, see deeper, and solve harder problems.

Now is the time to invest in microscopy that keeps pace with your innovation.

Fuel the Future of Hydrogen
[Request a Demo] | [Download the Whitepaper] | [Contact Us]

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If you want to have more information on data processing at ZEISS, please refer to our data privacy and legal notice.