Korea University researchers led by Professor Jun-Hyung Shim have developed an inkjet printing process for the fabrication of Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells (PCEC) used in ...

Korea University researchers led by Professor Jun-Hyung Shim have developed an inkjet printing process for the fabrication of Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells (PCEC) used in hydrogen fuel cells and water electrolysis. Published in Chemical Engineering Journal on March 1, 2026, the study demonstrates the production of all cell components via inkjet printing, achieving over 98 percent hydrogen purity and 80 percent energy conversion efficiency. The process replaces traditional screen printing and slot-die coating methods, allowing for greater flexibility in material composition and geometric design without requiring extensive hardware reconfiguration. The research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea under the Future Hydrogen Source Technology Development Program.

This development addresses the manufacturing bottlenecks associated with scaling hydrogen energy systems, specifically the high costs and rigid tooling requirements of legacy coating methods. While screen printing remains the industry standard for high-volume production, the ability to rapidly iterate cell designs and material combinations via inkjet printing provides a significant advantage for R&D and pilot-scale production of high-efficiency ceramic cells. By moving toward a digital, additive-based manufacturing approach, the team aims to reduce the time-to-market for next-generation energy conversion devices. This aligns with broader trends in the energy sector to optimize the production of green hydrogen infrastructure through more versatile, automated manufacturing platforms.

Transitioning from traditional coating to inkjet printing for ceramic electrochemical cells requires overcoming challenges related to ink rheology and long-term sintering stability. For commercial viability, the team must now demonstrate that this inkjet process can maintain consistent performance metrics at larger scales and higher throughputs. Users and manufacturers should focus on the scalability of the ink formulations and the integration of these printing systems into existing automated production lines to validate cost-effectiveness against established high-volume manufacturing techniques.