This is the sixth granted patent protecting our innovations in hydrogen solutions and it brings our IP portfolio to a total of 92 granted patents.

This specific innovation regards corrosion protection of the anode in water electrolysis, with non-noble metal oxides. The innovation also improves durability and efficiency for anode electrodes with low iridium loading.

Fabian Wenger, Head of R&D at Smoltek Hydrogen

Most of the hydrogen produced today is from fossil hydrocarbons with huge emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. However, hydrogen production through electrolysis of water can be made 100% fossil-free and avoiding those emissions. A main obstacle though is the use of expensive precious metals, like iridium, as catalysts in the process of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers.

Current PEM electrolyzers face significant challenges due to the corrosive conditions within the electrolysis cell. The combination of an acidic environment and high electrical potential necessitates the use of highly chemically stable materials, such as iridium and platinum.

By using carbon nanostructures as catalyst support for the anode electrode Smoltek Hydrogen has showed that a reduction of iridium loading of 95% in the PEM electrolyzers is possible. For the protection of the nanostructure a platinum coating is deposited. With the newly granted patent, Smoltek Hydrogen presents a chemically stable innovation that coat the nanostructure with non-noble metal oxides, reducing the use of expensive platinum thus further reducing the cost for the anode. Moreover, the innovation also improves the durability and efficiency of the cell making the solution even more attractive to electrolyzer manufacturers.

Smoltek’s patent portfolio now globally comprises 92 granted patents. Read more about our IP and patents.