Summary
- Profile Type
- Technology offer
- POD Reference
- TOGB20240228026
- Term of Validity
- 4 March 2024 - 4 March 2026
- Company's Country
- United Kingdom
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- The UK company has developed a novel electrochemical treatment process, activating stainless steel electrodes to create Platinum Group Metal (PGM) free Catrodes, combining catalyst and electrode as one, without additional ingredients. Experts in the integration of engineering principles with electrochemistry, the company would like to join a consortium as partner on Horizon Europe CLEANH2 calls: HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-02 or HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-03 (deadline 17/04/24)
- Full Description
-
This UK business is a leading deep tech start-up who stand at the forefront of fuel cell technology innovation, integrating engineering principles with electrochemistry. With a primary mission to combat climate change, The company specialises in decarbonising the extensive use of hydrogen in daily applications and industrial processes.
They are interested in the following themes:
- Hydrogen
- Green hydrogen
- AEM electrolysis
- Alkaline electrolysis
- Seawater electrolysis
- Catalysts / electrodes / anodes / cathodes
With current electrolyser technologies, the scaling up of Green Hydrogen production is severely limited by dependence on platinum and iridium catalysts, which are rare and expensive. The UK company is solving this imperative global need with their innovative electrochemical treatment process, where they activate stainless steel electrodes to make 'Catrodes' – which combine both catalyst and electrode as one homogeneous part, without additional ingredients.
The flagship technology product and process on offer to collaborators are catalysed electrodes, named 'Catrodes'. Catrodes are PGM-free, robust high-performance products for industrial use. The production process is developed for high volume mass production at realistic costs – reducing capital costs of green hydrogen and pivotal in advancing the capabilities of alkaline electrolysis systems.
The system is designed for alkaline water electrolysis, compatible with both Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) and Zero Gap configurations. Utilising Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte ranging from 0.1M to 5M concentrations, Catrodes offer exceptional performance and versatility.
In terms of performance, Catrodes rival state-of-the-art precious metal catalysts, providing remarkable efficiency in Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) comparable to platinum and iridium, yet surpassing nickel electrodes at a significantly reduced cost. With stable performance demonstrated over extended periods, Catrodes exhibit superior functionality even under demanding conditions.
Catrodes, engineered to function as anodes but adaptable for use as cathodes, are optimised for wet operation but can also be ionomer coated for dry operation. Additionally, their potential application in batteries and fuel cell technology underscores their versatility and opens avenues for collaboration and further research.
- Self-supporting catalyst, grown from its own substrate
- No added powders / binders
- PGM-free
- Sustainable – made from low cost, abundant materials
- Production line ready technology.
- 10% lower energy consumption when using Catrodes vs. current state of the art nickel catalysts
- Self-repairing catalyst
- Simple mass production technique
- Enabling a reduction in the capital costs of green hydrogen
The UK company's process represents a huge shift in catalyst electrode design, offering robust, high-performance solutions for industrial use. Focussing on sustainability and cost-effectiveness, the business offers the potential of application to mass production which promises to reduce the capital costs associated with green hydrogen production, driving us closer to a greener, more sustainable future.
The business is keen to join a consortium as a partner and are seeking technology and research partners for:
Horizon Europe CLEANH2 calls: HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-02 (Advanced anion exchange membrane electrolysers for low-cost hydrogen production for high power range applications)
or HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-03 (Development of innovative technologies for direct seawater electrolysis) - (deadline 17/04/24). - Advantages and Innovations
-
Advantages and innovation of the technology offer applicable to AEM electrolysers HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-02 & Direct Sea water electrolysis HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024-01-03:
Product offer: Catrode – combined catalyst and electrode.
Applications: suitable for AEM, Alkaline and seawater electrolysis.
Expertise: IP relating to mass production process of Catrodes.
Catrodes - catalysed electrodes made from stainless steel felt:
• Robust, self-supporting catalysts grown directly from the porous transport layer.
• Suitable for both HER (Hydrogen Evolution Reaction) and OER (Oxygen Evolution Reaction) in alkaline conditions.
• PGM-free, Critical Raw Materials (CRM) free, high-performance catalysts.
• Low-cost mass production – suitable for scale up.
• Circularity and recycling - stainless steel is easily recycled by established facilities.
• Electrodes and catalytic materials exhibiting stability in conditions characteristic for seawater.
KW (Kilowatt) Scale R&D electrolyser stacks featuring:
• Reconfigurable for electrolyte flows and monopolar/bipolar cells – to suit novel short stack layouts.
• Reconfigurable for multi-chambered cells and asymmetric electrolyte flows – providing cell architectures that suit state-of-the art research into direct seawater feeds.
• 200cm2 active cell area (14cm x 14cm) for realistic testing up to 10KW stacks.
• Integrated reference electrodes within individual cells – enabling half-cell measurements of both OER and HER.
• Voltage monitoring of individual cells within stack.
• Non-fluorinated plastic components – corrosion resistant and easily recycled by established facilities.
• Pressurised hydrogen output.
Other benefits:
- An innovative fast growing SME that has already successfully secured substantial funding from the UK Government's Energy Entrepreneurs Fund.
- The company is supported by the UK's Innovation Agency.
- It has also garnered further backing from academic partners and leading UK based Research Trade Organisations. - Stage of Development
- Lab tested
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- IPR status
- IPR applied but not yet granted
- IPR notes
- UK and international patent pending - All countries for worldwide IP
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
Partners would be expected to act as coordinators / lead on the bid.
The opportunity to refine and scale the technology in collaboration with the business.
• Business seeks research partners for membrane technologies particularly for use with seawater.
• Require expertise in offshore windfarm installations.
• Offshore data monitoring expertise.
• General balance of plant expertise.
The key element of the contribution by the UK business will be mass production facilities for Catrodes, production for 10KW stacks and beyond. - Type and Size of Partner
- SME <=10
- SME 50 - 249
- University
- R&D Institution
- SME 11-49
- Big company
- Other
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 04002001 - Fuel cells
- 02007022 - Conductive materials
- 04002002 - Hydrogen production
- 04002012 - Other energy related machinery
- Market keywords
- 08001012 - Speciality metals (including processes for working with metals)
- 06007001 - Other energy production
- 06003004 - Marine energy
- 06010003 - Energy for Industry
- Sector Groups Involved
- Renewable Energy
- Targeted countries
- All countries
Videos
Company's presentation & pitch