Innovation with purpose
Climate Impulse is a continuation of a century-long legacy. From Auguste Piccard’s 1927 stratospheric balloon ascent to our central role in his grandson, Bertrand Piccard’s record-breaking Solar Impulse project, we’ve always partnered with pioneers who dare to reimagine what’s possible.
This mission reflects our core belief: that science can advance humanity.
Meet the engineers, materials scientists and manufacturing specialists behind the technology powering Climate Impulse. In this behind-the-scenes film, Syensqo teams across multiple sites share how cross-functional collaboration is accelerating the development of advanced materials and lightweight aerospace structures for the aircraft.
The video explores how composites such as MTM®45-1 and Cycom® 977-2 are enabling ultra-light, cryogenic-ready structures capable of withstanding the extreme demands of liquid hydrogen storage and long-range flight. It also highlights Syensqo’s manufacturing, testing and materials engineering capabilities, from composite development through to production and performance validation, and how reducing aircraft weight can unlock more than 3,500 kilometres of additional range.
Featured in the film are Syensqo team members Rob Blackburn, Olivia Hart and John Allen, offering their perspective on the collaboration, expertise and innovation helping transform pioneering technologies into flight-ready solutions.
Climate Impulse is proof of what can be achieved when teams collaborate to push the boundaries on the art of the possible.
Putting next-gen materials, systems, and energy technologies to the ultimate test
Syensqo brings deep expertise in material science and engineering to support the goal of creating a fully composite hydrogen-powered aircraft capable of flying non-stop around the globe. Behind the mission is a team of expert minds who are designing, testing, and crafting a groundbreaking plan that pushes our technology and our imagination to new heights.
Hydrogen storage at -253°C
Storing enough liquid hydrogen at -253°C for a non-stop round-the-world flight is the biggest technical challenge Climate Impulse faces, and one of the greatest leaps forward in hydrogen aviation history.
To make this possible, Syensqo is contributing advanced material science solutions across multiple layers of the hydrogen tank system. Our high-performance epoxy resins and carbon composite materials are engineered to endure extreme cryogenic temperatures while offering the toughness, damage tolerance, and fatigue resistance essential for long-haul endurance. These materials provide the structural integrity required under constant thermal stress, without the added weight of metal.
To maximize fuel quantity on board, we’re targeting a gravimetric efficiency of around 50%, meaning the tank would carry as much hydrogen as the tank itself weighs, a key milestone for sustainable aviation.
Advanced insulation systems for the reservoir, using vacuum and multilayer insulation technologies, will ensure successful hydrogen storage. These solutions, enhanced by Syensqo's composites capable of withstanding high vacuum, allow for high thermal efficiency without compromising structural performance. Combined, they create lightweight tanks with long dormancy, opening the door to scalable, cryogenic hydrogen flight.
Learn more on Hydrogen Cryogenics
Fuel cell integration for continuous power
After hydrogen is stored, it must be transformed into flight-ready energy. That’s where our fuel cell technology comes in.
Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, cleanly and quietly, with only water as the byproduct. We need ultra-efficient, heat-resistant, and extremely durable materials to achieve the fuel cell system efficiency.
Syensqo supports this mission through a portfolio of high-performance materials, including:
- Aquivion® ion-conductive polymers, enabling fuel cell efficiencies of up to 60% through exceptional conductivity and thermal stability for long-duration, high-temperature operation.
- KetaSpire® CF10 LS1 AM Filament, alongside Syensqo’s additive manufacturing capabilities using carbon fiber PEEK and PEI, to create ultra-light, high-performance 3D-printed fuel cell components.
- MTM®58FRB composites, replacing traditional metal casings to reduce its weight by up to 50%.
- Fomblin® lubricants, delivering reliable lubrication in the fuel cell system.
This system is the clean engine of Climate Impulse and a blueprint for zero-emission power beyond aviation.
Explore the science: Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Ultra-light composites for maximum efficiency
Flying around the world on hydrogen means using every gram of energy wisely, and that starts with building a lighter aircraft.
Syensqo’s aerospace-grade composites offer unmatched strength-to-weight efficiency, allowing the aircraft to remain ultra-light while withstanding turbulent weather, solar exposure, and long-duration stress.
We’re supplying:
- MTM®45-1, carbon-fiber prepreg and FM® 209-1 Resin are used across the aviation industry for their exceptional mechanical performance
- Structural adhesives like AeroPaste®, engineered for secure, efficient assembly
- Composite systems from the Cycom® family for structural stiffness and fatigue durability- we selected CYCOM® 977-2 for the hydrogen tank
- MTM®58FRB - This fuel cell casing composite both lightens the powertrain and is flame-retardant, which is crucial in aviation.
These materials are used throughout the aircraft’s structure, including the fuselage, engine pods, pilot capsule, and more.
The result: a 600 kg weight reduction, enabling up to 3,500 kilometers of additional flight range. That’s a game-changing advantage for a mission crossing oceans on clean energy.
Battery technology: power when it matters most
Alongside the fuel cells, batteries play a vital role in powering the aircraft. While fuel cells continuously generate electricity from hydrogen, batteries act as a complementary energy source, storing power and supplying it during the moments the aircraft needs most:
- During take-off, when maximum power is required to generate lift
- During turbulence or sudden manoeuvres, when additional bursts of electricity are needed to maintain stability
This intelligent energy flow, with both fuel cells and batteries, keeps the aircraft lightweight, efficient, and continuously powered throughout every phase of the journey.
Syensqo contributes two key materials to the battery system: Solef® PVDF Binder for electrode and Solef® PVDF coating for separator, delivering the reliability and performance that long-duration flight demands.
