SME FunMat II: Alloyed nanoparticles for PEM electrolysis

Purpose and goal: This is an SME-project within the frames of the Competence centre FunMat II.

PEM electrolysis for the production of green hydrogen, today requires unsustainable amounts of catalytic noble metals. Ionautics´ solution is to design the electrodes in the electrolysis cells at the nano level with a sputtering technique. With the technique, the noble metal atoms can be placed selectively where they can effectively participate in the electrolysis process - e.g. on the surface of nanoparticles or in diluted alloys.

The project aims to investigate and develop the catalytic properties of the electrode material as a function of oxidation state and metal composition. Expected results and effects:

The project works with a building block to enable the production of completely green hydrogen. The solution contributes to making green hydrogen production economically competitive. Approach and implementation: The translation of the Swedish text into English is: The project contains the following activities:

Ir-Ru/HEA (high entropy alloys containing TiTaZrNb) particles with varying Ir-Ru content will be manufactured with Ionautics´ sputtering method. The materials will be characterized with advanced analysis techniques using LiU.

The catalytic activity of the particles for OER* will be studied in three-electrode setups and in electrolyzers. Cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy will be used to study the reaction kinetics and the rate-determining reaction steps.