Christian Beauger

Research Director

Discipline(s): Coordination Chemistry, Catalysis, Materials, Energy, Thermal Sciences
Topic(s): Catalyst, Electrolysis, Energy Efficiency, Hydrogen, Strategic Metals

Keywords

Team

MATPRO - Matériaux et Procédés pour l'énergie

Biography

Christian Beauger is a researcher specializing in materials and systems for energy technologies, with significant expertise in the development and optimization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and electrolysers. His work focuses in particular on improving the performance, durability, and water management of these systems, as well as on studying degradation mechanisms linked to contaminants such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂). He is also exploring alternatives to traditional carbon-based supports by developing innovative materials such as doped aerogels (SnO₂, TiO₂) or functionalized clays (sepiolite, halloysite) to enhance the electrochemical stability and proton conductivity of the membranes. His research extends to the photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ into hydrocarbons, where he studies materials based on doped aerogels for applications in reducing greenhouse gases. Christian Beauger is thus contributing to significant advances in the design of materials and processes for sustainable and efficient energy solutions.

Publication(s)

2025
Impact of cathode contamination by sulfur dioxide on proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance: Experimental and modeling study DOI : 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.238284
2025
Recent advancements in designing high-performance proton exchange membrane fuel cells: A comprehensive review DOI : 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125753
2025
PEMFC cathode humidification: Can direct water injection compete with membrane humifiers? A direct comparison study DOI : 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.151165
2024
Less sensitive proton-exchange membrane to a relative humidity below 30% DOI : 10.1016/j.memsci.2024.122574
2024
CO2 photoreduction to methanol over Nb and N co-doped TiO2 aerogel deposited CuxO DOI : 10.1016/j.jcou.2024.102719
2024
Corrigendum to Economical assessment comparison for hydrogen reconversion from ammonia using thermal decomposition and electrolysis [Renew Sustain Energy Rev 188 (2023) 113784] (Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (2023) 188, (S136403212300641X), (10.1016/j.rser.2023.113784)) DOI : 10.1016/j.rser.2024.114733
2023
Economical assessment comparison for hydrogen reconversion from ammonia using thermal decomposition and electrolysis DOI : 10.1016/j.rser.2023.113784
2022
Functionalized nanoclays for improved properties of composite proton exchange membranes DOI : 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.232083
2021
Composite short-side-chain PFSA electrolyte membranes containing selectively modified halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) DOI : 10.1007/s10853-021-06109-4
2021
Oxygen Evolution Reaction Activity and Stability Benchmarks for Supported and Unsupported IrOxElectrocatalysts DOI : 10.1021/acscatal.0c04613
2020
Insight into the Mechanisms of High Activity and Stability of Iridium Supported on Antimony-Doped Tin Oxide Aerogel for Anodes of Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers DOI : 10.1021/acscatal.9b04449
2020
Manipulating the Corrosion Resistance of SnO2Aerogels through Doping for Efficient and Durable Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysis in Acidic Media DOI : 10.1021/acscatal.0c01084
2019
Degradation Mechanisms of Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts: A Combined Identical-Location Transmission Electron Microscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study DOI : 10.1021/acscatal.9b00280
2019
Physicochemical properties of Aquivion/fluorine grafted sepiolite electrolyte membranes for use in PEMFC DOI : 10.1016/j.electacta.2019.06.118
2019
Doped tin oxide aerogels as oxygen evolution reaction catalyst supports DOI : 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.07.152
2019
Influence of sepiolite and halloysite nanoclay additives on the water uptake and swelling of nafion based composite membranes for PEMFC: Impact of the blending time on composite homogeneity DOI : 10.1246/cl.181032
2018
Sb-doped SnO2 aerogels based catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Pt deposition routes, electrocatalytic activity and durability DOI : 10.1149/2.0041806jes
2017
Improving the activity and stability of Ir catalysts for PEM electrolyzer anodes by SnO2:Sb aerogel supports: does V addition play an active role in electrocatalysis? DOI : 10.1039/c7ta00679a
2017
Benefits and limitations of Pt nanoparticles supported on highly porous antimony-doped tin dioxide aerogel as alternative cathode material for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells DOI : 10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.08.010
2017
Pt Nanoparticles Supported on Niobium-Doped Tin Dioxide: Impact of the Support Morphology on Pt Utilization and Electrocatalytic Activity DOI : 10.1007/s12678-016-0340-z
2017
Insights into the stability of Pt nanoparticles supported on antimony-doped tin oxide in different potential ranges DOI : 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.05.178
2016
Doped TiO2 aerogels as alternative catalyst supports for proton exchange membrane fuel cells: A comparative study of Nb, v and Ta dopants DOI : 10.1016/j.micromeso.2016.06.003
2016
Niobium- and antimony-doped tin dioxide aerogels as new catalyst supports for PEM fuel cells DOI : 10.1007/s10853-016-9833-7
2015
Cellulose-silica aerogels DOI : 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.01.022
2015
Improvement of Nafion®-sepiolite composite membranes for PEMFC with sulfo-fluorinated sepiolite DOI : 10.1016/j.memsci.2015.08.014
2015
Sn02 aerogels: Towards performant and stable PEFC catalyst supports DOI : 10.1149/06917.1207ecst
2015
Xerocellulose: lightweight, porous and hydrophobic cellulose prepared via ambient drying DOI : 10.1007/s10853-015-9002-4
2015
Suricat, a project dedicated to stable PEMFC catalyst supports
2014
Correlations between the catalytic layer composition, the relative humidity and the performance for PEMFC carbon aerogel based membrane electrode assemblies DOI : 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.09.107
2013
Nafion®-sepiolite composite membranes for improved proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance DOI : 10.1016/j.memsci.2012.11.037
2012
Influence of the carbon texture of platinum/carbon aerogel electrocatalysts on their behavior in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell cathode DOI : 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.03.085
2011
Carbon aerogels as catalyst supports and first insights on their durability in proton exchange membrane fuel cells DOI : 10.1002/fuce.201000182
2011
Impact of three different TiO2 morphologies on hydrogen evolution by methanol assisted water splitting: Nanoparticles, nanotubes and aerogels DOI : 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.08.007
2009
Preparation and microstructure of titanate nanowire thin films by spray layer-by-layer assembly method DOI : 10.2109/jcersj2.117.381
2008
Synthesis and microsructure of a novel TiO2 aerogel-TiO2 nanowire composite DOI : 10.1142/S1793292008001222
2000
Synthese basse temperature du gallate de zinc

Projects

2022-2026 MATHYLDE Lead Investigator
2024-2027 IDEAS Co-Investigator
2026-2029 MARINER Partner
2022-2027 DURASYSPAC Partner

Teaching

Hydrogen for Energy

Course Director

The program is structured around a series of courses and lectures delivered by faculty members at the Carnot M.I.N.E.S. Institute, supplemented by a few industry-led presentations. In total, there are 8 half-days, each consisting of 2 sessions of 90 minutes each, with the last session devoted to assessment. Presentation materials (slides) will be provided to students. Overview (Significance, hydrogen production/distribution/storage, heat pump technologies, heat pump/electrolysis applications, etc.) - Christian Beauger (MPT/PERSEE) Properties of Hydrogen - Alain Thorel (AFM), Elise El-Ahmar (CTP) Production / Biomass - Maria Gonzalez Martinez (IMT Albi/RAPSODEE) Production / Reforming - Doan Pham Minh (IMT Albi/RAPSODEE) Production / Electrolysis, photolysis, electrochemical purification - Christian Beauger (MPT/PERSEE) Production / Plasma cracking (NC/H2 co-production) - Laurent Fulcheri (MPT/PERSEE) Applications / Low-Temperature Fuel Cells (PEMFC) - Christian Beauger (MPT/PERSEE) Applications / High-Temperature Fuel Cells (SOFC, Single-Chamber, Ideal Cell…) - Alain Thorel (AFM) Storage and Distribution / High-Pressure, Low-Temperature Tanks - Guillaume Petitpas (Air Liquide) Storage and Distribution / Porous Materials - Pascaline Pré (IMT Atlantique/DSEE) Storage and Distribution / Salt Cavities - Faouzi Hadj-Hassen (MPT/Géos) Storage and Distribution / Distribution - Marco Campestrini (MPT/CES) Sustainable Development / LCA - Jonna Schlesinger (MPT/OIE) Sustainable Development / H₂ and Society - Madeleine Akrich, Alexandre Mallard (MPT/CSI) Hydrogen for the Aerospace Industry - Théophile Hordé (Airbus) Evaluation

PhD supervision

2024 New aerogel-based materials for green hydrogen production via low-temperature water electrolysis in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWE) ANTONCZAK Pierre
2022 Impact of Air Pollutants on the Performance and Durability of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells for Automotive Applications ABD EL KADER Ahmad
2022 Humidification of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell by direct water injection at the cathode. MARTEAU Flavien
2022 New aerogel-based materials for green hydrogen production via low-temperature water electrolysis (PEMWE) ZHANG Like
2020 Hydrogen recovery from ammonia: Positioning of the electrolysis pathway KANAAN Riham
2020 Photocatalytic reduction of water and carbon dioxide on TiO2-based aerogels for solar fuel production WEN Miaomiao
2017 New electrodes for low-temperature water electrolysis (PEMWE) based on doped tin dioxide (SnO2) aerogels (Sb, Nb, or Ta) as catalyst supports. SOLA HERNANDEZ Lluis
2016 Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA)/clay composite membranes for low relative humidity and high temperature operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) WOO Sahng Hyuck
2013 Electrodes à base d’aérogels de SnO2, résistantes à la corrosion pour la réduction de l’oxygène dans les piles à combustible à membrane échangeuse de protons (PEMFC) OZOUF Guillaume