Research on hydrogen infiltration in steel
Empa researchers Chiara Menegus (background) and Claudia Cancellieri investigate how hydrogen interacts with the thin oxide layers on high-strength steel (Image: Empa)
September 25, 2025 – Hydrogen corrodes steel. High-strength steels, such as those used in the construction of bridges, high-rise buildings, and oil and gas infrastructure, are susceptible to embrittlement by atomic hydrogen from the environment. The complex mechanisms behind this are not yet fully understood. Natural oxide layers on steel can act as barriers, preventing hydrogen from penetrating the steel component. The Swiss materials research institute Empa is investigating how hydrogen penetrates high-strength steel. The team used electrochemical loading combined with HAXPES spectroscopy.
(HAXPES (Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) is an analytical technique that uses hard X-rays to see deeper into materials than traditional X-ray techniques.)
This allowed them to directly monitor how hydrogen diffuses and accumulates in the microstructure. This is important for pipelines, storage tanks, and other components of the hydrogen economy. This knowledge will help develop alloys and coatings that are more resistant to brittleness and long-term use. This will allow materials to be used more safely and efficiently in a future hydrogen-based energy system.
