The Porous Transport Electrode Breakthrough

Smoltek Hydrogen’s breakthrough in reducing iridium usage centers on our PTE technology. Instead of applying catalyst to the membrane (CCM approach), we coat the electrode substrate (CCS approach) with a crucial innovation: multiplying the available surface area.

By growing vertically aligned carbon nanofibers directly onto a porous titanium layer, we create a forest-like structure that increases the active surface area 30-fold. These nanofibers, 14,000 times thinner than a human hair, transform a standard A4-sized electrode into an effective catalytic surface exceeding 1.8 million mm².

Our manufacturing process is straightforward:

1. Carbon nanofibers are grown on titanium substrate
2. An ultra-thin platinum coating protects against corrosion while maintaining conductivity
3. Iridium is precisely deposited atom-by-atom, creating maximum active catalyst sites
4. The completed PTE is quality tested and packaged for delivery to electrolyzer manufacturers

Performance Validation

Our technology delivers proven results, which confirm that we have achieved TRL 4 (validated in a laboratory environment):

• Identical performance: We achieve the same performance with only 0.1 mg/cm² iridium compared to conventional electrodes requiring 2.0 mg/cm².
• Proven durability: Successful 1,000-hour tests completed without signs of irreversible degradation.
• Independent verification: PEM expert Dr. Felix Büchi has independently verified and confirmed our technology’s capabilities.

We are currently performing tests under industrially relevant conditions to validate TRL 5, a step we expect to reach shortly. Thereafter, our production capabilities, starting in 2026, will accelerate further development towards TRL 6–7.

Intellectual Property & Business Model

Our technology is underpinned by a comprehensive intellectual property portfolio comprising over 110 patents granted or pending across 22 patent families. This protection covers core CNF synthesis, electrode structure design, and manufacturing processes, creating a significant barrier to entry with strategic coverage in key markets including Europe (EPO), USA, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and India, among others.

Our business model focuses on manufacturing and selling the complete Smoltek PTE to our customers, enabling them to achieve nearly 100% catalyst utilization, with each iridium atom actively participating in the reactions.

The same platform technology can revolutionize fuel cells and other electrochemical applications, positioning Smoltek as a fundamental enabler of the hydrogen economy.