SINTEF is the largest independent research organisation in Scandinavia. We create value through knowledge generation, research and innovation, and develop technological solutions that are brought into practical use.

SINTEF is a broadly based, multidisciplinary research concern that possesses international top-level expertise in technology, medicine and the social sciences, and our aim is to become the most renowned contract research institution in Europe.

SINTEF is an independent, non-commercial organisation. The profits of our contract research projects are invested in new research, scientific equipment and competence development. In the course of the past five years, we have invested NOK 500 million of our own funds in laboratories and scientific equipment.

Business concept
SINTEF's goal is to contribute to wealth creation and to the sound and sustainable development of society. We generate new knowledge and solutions for our customers, based on research and development in technology, the natural sciences, medicine and the social sciences.

Vision
Technology for a better society.

Our services
We solve our customers’ problems through research contracts in the following fields: Health, information and communications technology, marine activities, materials science and applied chemistry, petroleum and energy, technology management and building/construction. SINTEF intends in this way to act as a driving force in the process of restructuring and developing Norwegian society.

SINTEF Materials and Chemistry is a division within the SINTEF Group with 420 employees, and around 30 associated professors, covering fundamental and industrial research related to materials and processes.

The New Energy Solutions group within SINTEF Materials and Chemistry has specialized in materials and processes electrochemical energy conversion technologies. The main focus is on research related to PEM fuel cells, electrolysers and batteries, other activity areas include alkaline fuel cells and electrodes, as well as ion-selective electrodes. The group is highly experienced with various electrochemical characterisation techniques.

Recent research activities have focus on development of catalyst and electrode support, development of coatings/concepts for bipolar plates and studies of degradation of PEM technology. All our work is based on a combination of in-situ and ex-situ (i.e. SEM, TEM, XRD, electrochemical cells) techniques. In situ characterisation is mainly based on electrochemical techniques and local temperature measurements together with online monitoring of fluoride emission rate from effluents of PEM fuel cells by utilization of a fluoride selective electrode (SINTEF SINTALYZER system). A liquid chromatograph for detection of degradation products is also installed and available for use. Experiences include characterisation of alkaline fuel cells, with focus on dynamic behaviour, electrochemical characterisation of ORR in alkaline media.


Furthermore, transient models (step changes and impedance model) based on agglomerate structure theory have been developed for the cathodic reaction of alkaline and PEM fuel cells.