Smoltek Hydrogen, specializing in innovative solutions based on carbon nanotechnology, and Heraeus Precious Metals, a global leader in precious metal solutions, have signed a term sheet on a strategic collaboration on advanced iridium-based catalyst solutions for proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers.

This collaboration marks a significant step toward developing the next generation of PEM electrolyzer technology, supporting the global energy transition with scalable and sustainable solutions.

By combining our nanostructure technology with Heraeus’ expertise in advanced catalyst formulations, we aim to further push the limits of iridium efficiency in PEM electrolyzers, paving the way for cost-effective green hydrogen production.

—Ellinor Ehrnberg, President of Smoltek Hydrogen

The cooperation partners will combine their knowledge to advance the functional of porous transport electrodes (PTEs), representing the next generation electrodes for PEM electrolyzers.

In this novel concept the porous transport layer that is required to carry water, hydrogen and oxygen from and to the proton exchange membrane serves at the same time as electrode and catalytic carrier. For this purpose, it is coated with ultra-thin iridium and platinum containing catalytic layers. The key target is to decrease systematically the necessary amount of platinum group metals, especially of the very scarce iridium, to accelerate green hydrogen production at significantly lower cost and resource usage.

Smoltek’s Nanostructured Low Iridium-Load PTE

Key factors for an ultra-low iridium solution are a high addressable surface, smallest particle sizes and the formulation of the particles itself. The collaboration combines Smoltek’s ultra-low iridium nanostructure technology for the PTL with Heraeus’ expertise in advanced catalyst formulations. Smoltek has already achieved 0.1 mg/cm² iridium loading in PEM electrolyzers, and this partnership is expected to further reduce the iridium content, for example by applying Heraeus’ unique ruthenium-iridium catalyst on Smoltek Hydrogen’s nanostructured porous transport electrode.

The collaboration itself does not generate any direct revenue and the agreement is non-binding. Nevertheless, Smoltek Hydrogen see it as an important opportunity, as it can give the company better access to the market and the customer base of Smoltek Hydrogen's partners.