BIO

Michael is a postdoctoral researcher at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, California focused on material compatibility of polymers with hydrogen for hydrogen technology, transportation, and storage for a greener future. His work supports the DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office's H-Mat and HyBlend programs, striving to enable the transition to sustainable energy. He received his Ph.D in physics from the University of California, Merced studying stimuli-responsive polymers.

ABSTRACT

One way to cut greenhouse gas emissions is by blending green hydrogen into our gas lines to replace natural gas. However, this shift raises crucial questions about the long-term compatibility of pipeline materials with hydrogen gas. Sandia National Labs has well characterized hydrogen embrittlement of metals, serving as a good reason to study material compatibility, however, the interaction of hydrogen with soft materials such as rubbers and plastics has been less studied. My research explores how polymers, e.g. polyethylene, a key material in natural gas pipelines, respond to hydrogen and blended gas exposures. A combination of ex-situ and in-situ techniques are used to study the molecular structure and physical properties of polymers in hydrogen gas blends. These studies help refine techniques for real-time analysis of hydrogen’s effects on polymer structure and chemistry. This work is essential for ensuring pipeline durability, mechanical strength, and longevity of hydrogen service for the clean energy transition.