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ARC-H2: Autonomous Robotics-driven Catalysts for Hydrogen with High Durability

Developing ultralow iridium oxide catalysts
for green hydrogen production through AI- and robotics-driven autonomous synthesis

and Laplace pressure-based catalyst design
and leading the global hydrogen economy by establishing ultra-durable PEMWE technology.

Keyword Keyword

AI for Science Energy Hydrogen Utilization Advanced Materials Autonomous Systems

OBJECTIVE Objectives

To overcome the thermodynamic solubility limit via Laplace pressure and lattice oxygen stabilization,
we establish and operate Autonomous discovery closed-loop—cycling through ML-based inverse design → robotic autonomous synthesis
→ electrochemical and atomic-scale characterization → MEA/short-stack demonstration as a single data pipeline—and complete a full technology chain for hydrogen economy materials.

INTRODUCTION Director's Message



Hello.

I am Sung-Yoon Chung, Director of ARC-H2.

Our research group aims to develop anode catalysts for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE),
the core technology for green hydrogen production, with a particular focus on
realizing multi-component single-phase solid-solution oxide catalysts by utilizing the Laplace pressure,
which are thermodynamically challenging in bulk systems.

We plan to establish and operate autonomous discovery closed-loop, combining AI-based inverse compositional design with robotic autonomous synthesis.
Through this system, we aim to explore catalyst composition spaces of tens of thousands or more,
far beyond human physical limits, and develop catalysts capable of simultaneously achieving ultra-low iridium loading and ultra-high durability.

Thank you.

IMPACT Impact

Achieving both domestic material self-sufficiency and a breakthrough in hydrogen economics is the core impact of ARC-H2.
An 80% reduction in iridium loading combined with 80,000-hour durability will cut PEMWE costs by 30–50%.
This directly drives green hydrogen production costs toward the DOE target of less than $2/kg.

Beyond water electrolysis, the Laplace pressure-based solid-solution design theory and the Autonomous Discovery Closed-Loop platform
are directly extensible to other energy applications, including battery cathode materials, CO2 electroreduction, and solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs).

TALENT Ideal Talent

Proactive and collaborative researchers who bridge the lab, national institutes, and industry

to turn scientific discovery into real-world impact

FACULTY Faculty