Hydrogen Fuel for Gas Turbines: New Research Reveals Material Degradation Risks at High Temperatures

A new study published in Nature Materials shows that hydrogen can cause severe embrittlement in Nickel-base superalloys, the key materials used in gas turbines for power generation and aviation. Researchers found that at elevated temperatures between 400 and 1000 degrees Celsius, hydrogen reacts with carbon in the alloy to form methane, creating internal pressure that weakens the material. This degradation is at least twice as severe as what occurs at room temperature. The findings are critical for plans to replace fossil fuels with hydrogen in gas turbines, which currently account for about 22 percent of global electricity generation and 15 percent of CO2 emissions. The research team, led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, East China University of Science and Technology, and Hunan University, used atom probe tomography and density functional theory calculations to identify the mechanism. The study suggests that future alloy designs should replace carbides with alternative strengthening methods to prevent hydrogen attack. This work provides a foundation for developing hydrogen-resistant materials needed for safe large-scale hydrogen combustion in both stationary power turbines and aviation engines.