Highly active nanostructured electrodes

Researcher:

Categories:

Chemistry and Materials | Sustainability and Energy

The Technology

Nano-engineered electrodes were shown to dramatically increase catalytic activity versus electrodes made of the same materials prepared by standard methodologies. Current preparation methods, such as ALD, are expensive, slow, and generally non-scalable. Such electrodes can be used e.g., for several applications in the field of renewable energy storage and CO2 capture.
In a world powered by intermittent renewable energy, electrolyzers will play a central role in converting electrical energy into chemical energy, thereby decoupling the production of transport fuels and chemicals from today’s fossil resources and decreasing the reliance on bioenergy. Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) offer two major advantages over alternative electrolysis technologies. First, their high operating temperatures result in favorable thermodynamics and reaction kinetics, enabling unrivaled conversion efficiencies. Second, SOECs can be thermally integrated with downstream chemical syntheses. In addition, SOECs are capable of working in high pressure and don’t require expensive, scarce materials such as platinum.
The nano-engineered SOECs electrodes increase the SOEC current density by up to 2 orders of magnitude.

Advantages

  • High current density
  • Scalable, cost-effective method
  • Dramatically increased electrode efficiency
  • Low material usage

Applications and Opportunities

  • Electrolyzers
  • Fuel cells
  • CO and H2 production
  • Carbon capture
arrow Business Development Contacts
Shikma Litmanovitz
Director of Business Development, Physical Science