Empowering Low Temperature Electrolysis through Fundamentals Illumination and Materials Innovation

June 15 - 20, 2025

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GRC Education Requirements: Undergraduates or those who have not obtained a bachelor's degree in science/engineering (or acceptable equivalent) are not eligible to apply to attend Gordon Research Conferences or Seminars.

Chairs

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Vice Chairs

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Waterville Valley

56 Packard's Road

Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, United States

Venue and Travel Information

Application Information

Applications for this meeting must be submitted by May 18, 2025. Please apply early, as some meetings become oversubscribed (full) before this deadline. If the meeting is oversubscribed, it will be stated here. Note: Applications for oversubscribed meetings will only be considered by the conference chair if more seats become available due to cancellations.

Conference Description

The Water Electrolysis GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

Hydrogen production via water electrolysis has gained significant interest due to its wide abilities to impact the global energy sector. This conference will explore fundamental discoveries and scientific innovations needed to advance water electrolysis. It will cover electrode kinetics, rational catalyst design, ionomer/membrane polymer synthesis, membrane/electrode/transport layer interfaces, microstructural characterization, multi-physics modeling, cell degradation mechanisms, components integration, and system integration. This conference will cover low temperature water electrolysis systems, which include liquid alkaline water electrolysis (LAWE), proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE), bipolar membrane water electrolysis (BMWE) or other advanced emerging electrolysis technologies.

This inaugural “Water Electrolysis” conference will bring together scholars, students, scientists, engineers, and policy makers from research institutions, industry, and stakeholder organizations to tackle the most pressing issues in low to intermediate-temperature water electrolysis. These issues, which include performance improvement, cost reduction, and lifetime extension, will be addressed by fostering broad and deep scientific discussions and nurturing interdisciplinary collaboration.

The conference will also probe the impact of operating strategies and system integration on performance, cost, and durability considerations; for example, how grid integration or direct coupling to renewable generation will impact the operation, functionality, and lifetime of water electrolyzers. The resulting scientific and technological outcomes are not only central to basic science dissemination, but also instrumental in advancing water electrolysis technologies for greater global adoption and impact.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Water Electrolysis and Global H2 Perspective Discussion Leader:
7:40 pm - 7:45 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:10 pm	"Overview of Department of Energy Low Temperature Electrolysis Activities"
8:10 pm - 8:20 pm	Discussion
8:20 pm - 8:45 pm	"The Science of Manufacturing PEM Electrolyzers at Scale"
8:45 pm - 8:55 pm	Discussion
8:55 pm - 9:20 pm	"Overview and Issues of Technoeconomic Analysis of Low Temperature Electrolysis"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	PEMWE Catalysis and Mechanistic Studies Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:40 am	"The Molecular Machineries of Electrolytic Water Splitting"
9:40 am - 10:00 am	Discussion
10:00 am - 10:30 am	Group Photo / Coffee Break
10:30 am - 11:10 am	"Catalyst/Electrolyte Interfacial Transformations: Key Descriptors Governing the Oxygen Evolution Reaction at Different pHs"
11:10 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 12:10 pm	"Pathways to Thrift Iridium in PEM Water Electrolysis by Electrocatalyst and Support Design"
12:10 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm	The GRC Power Hour™ The GRC Power Hour™ is designed to address the interests and needs of all scientists and the challenges they face in their careers. Specifically, the program promotes meaningful conversations amongst colleagues of all career stages about barriers to career advancement and strategies to support the professional growth of all members of the community. The GRC Power Hour™ is open to all conference participants. Organizers: and
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Challenges and Opportunities for PEM Electrolyzer Components Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 8:10 pm	"Introduction to Powder Metallurgy and Its Promise for Water Electrolysis"
8:10 pm - 8:30 pm	Discussion
8:30 pm - 9:10 pm	"Durable, High-Performance Membranes for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis"
9:10 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	PTL, Electrode, and Interface Characterizations Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:40 am	"Understanding Catalyst Layer: PTL Interfaces Through Advanced Characterization and Modeling"
9:40 am - 10:00 am	Discussion
10:00 am - 10:30 am	Coffee Break
10:30 am - 11:10 am	"Cell Performance and Durability Considerations of PEM Electrolyzers"
11:10 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 12:10 pm	"Analytical Electron Microscopy Investigation of Electrocatalyst and Electrode Degradation Mechanisms"
12:10 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Fundamentals for Alkaline Water Electrolysis Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 8:10 pm	"Fundamental Aspects of Alkaline Water Electrolysis"
8:10 pm - 8:30 pm	Discussion
8:30 pm - 9:10 pm	"Novel Materials and Operando Characterization of Alkaline Electrolyzer Technologies"
9:10 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Liquid Alkaline Electrolysis Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:40 am	"Flexibility in Alkaline Water Electrolysis"
9:40 am - 10:00 am	Discussion
10:00 am - 10:30 am	Coffee Break
10:30 am - 11:10 am	"Zirfon Membranes: A Key to Unlock the Potential of Alkaline Electrolysis"
11:10 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 12:10 pm	"Electrocatalytic Pathways for Hydrogen Evolution in Alkaline Medium from Liquid to Membrane Interface"
12:10 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolysis Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 8:10 pm	"AEM and AEM Electrolyzers"
8:10 pm - 8:30 pm	Discussion
8:30 pm - 9:10 pm	"Before Catalysts and Membranes: Understanding and Improving AEMEL Performance Through Component Design and Controlling Operational Variables"
9:10 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Emerging Electrolysis Concepts Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:40 am	"Green Hydrogen and Efficiency Wins: Hysata's New Electrolyzer Technology"
9:40 am - 10:00 am	Discussion
10:00 am - 10:30 am	Coffee Break
10:30 am - 11:10 am	"Tailoring Activity Toward Competitive Electrooxidation Reactions in Seawater and Brine"
11:10 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 12:10 pm	"Bipolar Membrane Water Electrolyzers: Uniting the Best Aspects of PEM and AEM Water Electrolyzers"
12:10 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Critical Factors for Global H2 Deployment Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 8:00 pm	"Key Stack Development Synergies Between PEM and AEM Electrolysers"
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm	Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:35 pm	"Pathways to Make Green H2 Economical Viable"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 9:10 pm	"Hydrogen at Scale, Challenges"
9:10 pm - 9:20 pm	Discussion
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	Closing Remarks
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure