Dear hydrogen enthusiasts,

It is our greatest pleasure to welcome you to the Fifth International Conference on Metals and Hydrogen; Steelyhydrogen 2025. After the successful editions of Steelyhydrogen in 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2022, we are very happy to welcome a record number of participants to Ghent again in 2025. This year, the organisation is done jointly between OCAS and Ghent University  The number of proposed contributions has continued to grow compared to the previous editions. This three-day event now features over 40 presentations and more than 100 posters from around the world, underscoring the continued importance, as well as the broad diversity of topics related to the link between metals and the many facets of hydrogen.

The scope of the conference remains consistent with previous editions, i.e. scientific research on the interaction between hydrogen and metals. This topic is explored from multiple perspectives and through diverse methodologies, including computational as well as experimental work, applied and fundamental research, substrate and surface aspects. Mechanical effects as well as internal hydrogen management aspects – such as uptake, diffusion, trapping etc. – are also key areas of interest.

The climate challenges that our society faces and the related boost of interest in hydrogen as energetic vector, is logically reflected in the program of this conference with every day a dedicated session related to the behaviour of hydrogen in metals for the global energy transition.

From all the submissions we aimed for a well-balanced program of presentations satisfying an audience with diverse interests. This implied to blend industrial challenges with theoretical insights, and methodological advancements.  As this year there is a high number of posters, we have expanded the number of poster pitch sessions to ensure broad visibility and interaction. As in previous editions, we targeted the proceedings to be ready at the start of the conference as feedback indicated it is a real added value for the participants. We express our sincere thanks to all authors for their in-time and valuable contributions. The best presentation and best poster of the conference will be selected by the members of the scientific jury and will be awarded in the closing ceremony.

We wish you lot of interest while exploring this e-book and hope that you will have stimulating interactions during these three days.

 

On behalf of Ghent University:                                            

Tom Depover (co-chair)
Kim Verbeken 
Stefaan Cottenier     
Karen Hemelsoet                                                                        

On behalf of OCAS: 

Lode Duprez (co-chair)
Serge Claessens
Robin Dedoncker
Fleur Maas