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With our carÂbon nanÂoteÂcholÂoÂgy platÂform as a base, we develÂop mateÂrÂiÂal soluÂtions for use in the hydroÂgen indusÂtry. Like a coatÂed nanosÂtrucÂture that acts as a scafÂfold for iridÂiÂum catalysts.
CurÂrentÂly, we focus on improvÂing the elecÂtroÂchemÂiÂcal cell in PEM elecÂtrolyzÂers and fuel cells. The cell enables the conÂverÂsion of elecÂtricÂiÂty into hydroÂgen and vice verÂsa. Thus, it’s a key comÂpoÂnent in storÂing and transÂmitÂting renewÂable enerÂgy and decarÂbonizÂing indusÂtry, transÂportaÂtion, and heating.
Today’s PEM elecÂtrolyzÂers use costÂly catÂaÂlyst parÂtiÂcles which, in conÂtact with the memÂbrane, enable hydroÂgen to be formed. These catÂaÂlyst parÂtiÂcles are usuÂalÂly iridÂiÂum or platÂinum. In traÂdiÂtionÂal techÂnolÂoÂgy, these catÂaÂlyst parÂtiÂcles are mixed in a slurÂry that is applied on the plasÂtic memÂbrane. HowÂevÂer, the method (called CCM) is inefÂfiÂcient as not all catÂaÂlyst parÂtiÂcles come in conÂtact with the membrane.
Smoltek’s unique techÂnolÂoÂgy uses coatÂed (corÂroÂsion proÂtectÂed) carÂbon nanofibers (CNFs) as catÂaÂlyst supÂport applied directÂly on the PTL subÂstrate (a method called CCS), makÂing all the extremeÂly expenÂsive iridÂiÂum catÂaÂlysts come in full conÂtact with the MEA. We call this Smoltek PTE* (porous transÂport elecÂtrode). The result is that the need for iridÂiÂum parÂtiÂcles can decrease radÂiÂcalÂly – we have already showed that our PTE can proÂduce the same amount of hydroÂgen with only 0.1−0.2 mg iridium/​cm2 as a conÂvenÂtionÂal cell that uses 2.0−2.5 mg iridium/​cm2.
Our breakÂthrough innovation—Smoltek PTE—also increasÂes the active surÂface area by 30 times and enhances the catÂalytÂic activÂiÂty in the elecÂtroÂchemÂiÂcal PEM cell.
So, do you want to reduce the amount of iridÂiÂum parÂtiÂcles (and still proÂduce the same amount of fosÂsil-free hydroÂgen), or do you want to reduce the size of the cell area in the elecÂtrolyzÂer, thus getÂting a smallÂer and cheapÂer electrolyzer?
* The Smoltek PTE comÂbines the anode PTL with catÂaÂlyst, thus reducÂing the MEA layÂer to just ½ MEA. As seen in the difÂferÂent zoom-ins, the porous PTL is filled with carÂbon nanofibers (CNFs) that penÂeÂtrate the ½ MEA, enabling all of the iridÂiÂum catÂaÂlysts to make conÂtact with the MEA.
Smoltek’s techÂnolÂoÂgy offers a soluÂtion to this probÂlem. It enables the manÂuÂfacÂture of a new and more effiÂcient PTE for PEM elecÂtrolyzÂers based on our patent proÂtectÂed carÂbon nanÂotechÂnolÂoÂgy that creÂates a three-dimenÂsionÂal surÂface strucÂture on the anode side’s PTL layer.
The techÂnolÂoÂgy enables all iridÂiÂum catÂaÂlyst parÂtiÂcles to come into conÂtact with the memÂbrane, thanks to the fact the parÂtiÂcles are depositÂed on the nanosÂtrucÂture which is directÂly in conÂtact with the metalÂlic PTL surÂface. ThereÂby, the expenÂsive catÂaÂlyst parÂtiÂcles are fulÂly utiÂlized; thus, the iridÂiÂum catÂaÂlyst load in the cell can be reduced by up to 95 perÂcent. This is parÂticÂuÂlarÂly imporÂtant as the supÂply of iridÂiÂum and platÂinum are conÂsidÂered critÂiÂcal, i.e. the future demand for these mateÂriÂals canÂnot be met with cerÂtainÂty, and the reduced supÂply risks lead to increased proÂducÂtion costs for green hydroÂgen further.
Smoltek’s nanosÂtrucÂture also increasÂes the surÂface area of the elecÂtrode (the one in conÂtact with the memÂbrane). This means that more parÂtiÂcles can be placed on a givÂen surÂface, which in turn can reduce the elecÂtrolyzÂer in size by two to three times while mainÂtainÂing capacÂiÂty. A reduced-size means, among othÂer things, smallÂer investÂments and lowÂer mainÂteÂnance and mateÂrÂiÂal costs.
Read more about our elecÂtrolyzÂer cell mateÂrÂiÂal techÂnolÂoÂgy in the whitepaÂper IntroÂducÂing Smoltek ElecÂtrolyzÂer TechÂnolÂoÂgy.
Don’t hesÂiÂtate to conÂtact us with your questions.