In a joint press relase the companies states that the testing campaign will specifically evaluate the long-term operational stability of Smoltek’s proprietary nanostructured iridium catalyst layer, marking a critical step toward the commercialization and large-scale industrialization of cost-effective green hydrogen production.
Smoltek Hydrogen and Heraeus Precious Metals will start a 3,000-hour autumn durability test of ultra-low iridium PTEs for PEM water electrolysis.
The work targets a PEM scaling bottleneck: high iridium cost, with Smoltek aiming for below 0.1 mg/cm² loading while maintaining efficiency.
Heraeus will run testing and material analysis under realistic operating conditions to support industrialisation.
This joint effort directly addresses one of the primary bottlenecks in scaling PEM electrolysis: the high cost of iridium. By drastically reducing the required loading without sacrificing durability. Smoltek Hydrogen and Heraeus Precious Metals are paving the way for the expansion of the global green hydrogen infrastructure.
“Our nanostructured layer offers a unique capability to maximize charge and mass transport properties within a thickness of just a few microns. By optimizing this specific catalyst architecture, we can simultaneously maintain high electrolyzer efficiency while successfully reducing the amount of iridium needed to below 0.1 mg/cm² loading.” Fabian Wenger, Head of R&D at Smoltek Hydrogen
The collaboration leverages Smoltek’s innovative nanotechnology alongside Heraeus Precious Metals’ world-class expertise in precious metal electrocatalysts and material analysis. Testing and validation are central to transitioning this breakthrough from the laboratory to industrial application. Heraeus Precious Metals will lead the upcoming testing phase, bringing extensive resources to evaluate the catalyst’s performance under realistic operational conditions.
“We are looking forward to commencecommencing this extensive testing campaign and to provide the critical material analysis required to validate this technology. With our capabilities we will continue to support all steps towards an industrialization of these highly promising ultra-low iridium PTEs with our comprehensive analytical and testing capabilities.” Christian Gebauer, Head of Innovation at the Hydrogen Systems Division of Heraeus Precious Metals.
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ALCHEMPro News Desk (JP)
