University of Hong Kong researchers found a new stainless steel — SS-H2 — that resists corrosion in seawater electrolysers up to 1,700 mV, roughly double the limit of incumbent 254SMO super-stainless.
The dual-passivation mechanism (chromium oxide plus manganese-based film) could replace costly titanium and platinum-gold structural components in electrolyser stacks, reducing CAPEX for hydrogen production.
Why it matters for green steel: Cheaper, more durable electrolyser materials reduce the largest variable in the H₂-DRI-EAF cost stack — green hydrogen — directly improving the economics of primary green steel.