**3. Summary**

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis is a very promising technology for a sustainable hydrogen production and a comprehensive use of renewable energy. PEM electrolyzers are efficient, have high energy densities, and are flexible enough to play an important role for the integration of fluctuating renewables by power grid stabilizing effects. For a largescale commercialization, the technology needs to become more economically by production cost reduction. Vacuum plasma spraying (VPS) technology is a promising tool to solve pressing question about material substitution. By controlling the spraying parameters, as well highly dense and protective layer can be produced as well porous structures for use as porous transport layers. It handles thereby with the most expensive components and allows the use of stainless steel as basis material for BPPs, which can be protected by VPS coatings. This saves material and fabrication costs. By the use of Nb, it is potentially possible to produce a protective but simultaneously highly conductive coating which may reduce the BPPs cost significantly. By reducing the plasma enthalpy, the powder material can be just partly melted to produce low cost and highly efficient components for use as porous transport layer or any other function such as filter material. The possibilities are endless, and VPS is therefore a promising technology, which can dominate the future PEM electrolysis landscape.
