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French Technology Transfer Office offers a new catalyst for proton exchange membrane anode electrolyser

Country of Origin: France
Reference Number: TOFR20171009001
Publication Date: 22 November 2017

Summary

The French TTO (Technology Transfer Office) offers a new iridium-based catalyst for the anode of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer used to produce hydrogen by electrolysis of water.
Traditional solutions for hydrogen production by reforming or gasification of hydrocarbons are less suitable and not sufficient to meet growing demand for hydrogen and environmental constraints.
The French TTO is seeking for licence, research cooperation or technical cooperation agreement.

Description

The French TTO (Technology Transfer Office) is acting on behalf of an established public laboratory of a university of the Paris region.

*Market challenges
Nowadays, hydrogen is considered as a solution to reduce our dependence on fossil energies and as an accelerator for the development of renewable energy. Nevertheless the majority of the actual hydrogen production technics are energy intensive and thus produce large amount of carbon dioxide.

* Proposed technology
The material proposed is a catalyst for the anode of the proton exchange membrane electrolysis. This catalyst based on iridium/iridium oxide (Ir/IrO2) commonly used in proton exchange membrane technology is characterized by its optimised structure. It can be used to produce hydrogen by electrolysis of water. The potential applications are:
• Catalyst for anodes for proton exchange membrane electrolyser
• Catalysts for chemical reaction
• Energy storage.

The spherical and porous structure improves the catalytic properties by maximizing the number of active surfaces thus helping to accelerate the dissociation reaction of water while participating in the better transportation of gas produced. It is also possible to associate with this catalyst another material such as ruthenium as is common in this type of application.

* Proposed partnership
The French TTO is able to provide technical and legal assistance to facilitate the eventual partnership. In case of business potential the prototype can be partially funded by the TTO.
The partnerships sought are licence agreement, research cooperation agreement or technical cooperation agreement.

* Keywords:
#Catalysts
#Hydrogen
#Anode
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Advantages and Innovations

• The new structure allows optimizing the catalyst properties by multiplying the active surfaces.
• The manufacturing process is easily reproducible.
• Cost reduction: The effectiveness of this catalyst would reduce the quantities of catalyst usually used for a similar performance.
• The difference in potential measured at 1 A.cm2 is near to 1.7 V.

Stage Of Development

Available for demonstration

Stage Of Development Comment

The catalyst has been prepared at laboratory level and the first tests carried out are promising.

Requested partner

The partner sought could be a university or a company interested in a license agreement or a research cooperation agreement or a technical cooperation agreement. The eventual partner should have a strong technical background to co-develop the product with the TTO.

Cooperation offer is closed for requests