The need to mitigate climate change has intensified the focus on green hydrogen as a critical component of the future energy landscape. Among the various technologies available for green hydrogen production, Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysis stands out due to its excellent compatibility with intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. However, scaling PEM electrolysis to the gigawatt-scale, necessary for large scale green hydrogen production, faces significant challenges, primarily related to the reliance on scarce catalysts based on iridium (Ir). The use of these catalysts, while being effective, is limited by their high cost, scarcity, and the need for improved stability and efficiency in long-term operations.
Hosted by Alexander Bouman, Technical Business Developer at SparkNano, and Fabian Wenger, Head of R&D Smoltek Hydrogen, this webinar explores innovative solutions to produce green hydrogen using PEM electrolyzers with ultra-low iridium loadings, developed by SparkNano (Eindhoven, the Netherlands) and Smoltek (Göteborg, Sweden). We present the use of SparkNano’s spatial atomic layer deposition (Spatial ALD) technology, combined with nanostructured catalyst supports based on carbon nanofibers (CNF) from Smoltek, to reduce iridium loadings to 0.2 mg/cm², which is 40 times lower than conventional methods, while enhancing the catalyst’s stability, electrochemical performance, and providing a scalable, cost-effective solution for industrial-scale hydrogen production.
The webinar consists of a 30-minute session where we discuss:
- Introduction: Identifying the current obstacles in PEM electrolyzer production and the path to mass-scale adoption.
- Technology Deep Dive: A comprehensive overview of Spatial ALD technology and CNF supports, highlighting the creation of ultra-thin, conformal protective coatings at high throughput.
- Synergy of Spatial ALD and CNF: Learn how the integration of these two advanced technologies enhances performance and durability in PEM electrolyzers.