At TFP Hydrogen we specialise in the development of materials to reduce the cost of green hydrogen and are a leading supplier and developer of coatings and catalysts for both PEM and Alkaline electrolyser components. Our materials have all been specially developed and formulated to ensure optimum performance and durability whilst remaining cost effective and include:
Coatings for PEM Electrolyser Cell Components
We offer a range of cost-effective coatings for PEM electrolyser components which increase the efficiency, durability and lifetime of the system, ultimately reducing the long-term cost of green hydrogen production. Our coatings are specially formulated to improve the performance and long-term durability of titanium components including foils, porous media, plates & meshes.
Catalyst Powders for Water Electrolysis
For PEM water electrolyser applications, we offer manufacturers producing catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) both anode catalysts (IrO2 and IrRuO2) and cathode catalysts (Pt/C). These catalysts are highly dispersible into inks, and in round-robin tests came out top in performance and durability evaluations.
WHAT IS WATER ELECTROLYSIS & WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Hydrogen is a rapidly expanding market driven by support from global policy and targets. However, to make the mainstream use of hydrogen a reality, the
technologies used to generate it must demonstrate both performance and affordability. Water electrolysis is one of these technologies.
An electrolyser is an electrochemical device used to convert electricity and water into hydrogen and oxygen, providing a means to store the energy for later use. PEM water electrolysers can be used both to store energy from wind turbines and solar cell (generating ‘green hydrogen’), or in localised hydrogen production to power hydrogen fuelled vehicles. The technology enables the management of high current densities from dynamic energy sources (such as wind energy), as well as generating hydrogen with the high purity necessary for use in fuel cells.
To be competitive PEM electrolysers must operate at high energy efficiencies (80%+) for long time periods, a target that TFP Hydrogen Products’ coatings can enable them to meet.
< PEM WATER ELECTROLYSER SCHEMATIC
HOW CAN TFP HYDROGEN HELP?
We are experts in the development of electrochemical materials and our specialist coatings and catalysts can reduce the cost of green hydrogen production using PEM water electrolysers by increasing both stack efficiency and lifetime.
Our coatings are used on a number of different titanium PEM electrolyser components to increase the performance and lifetime of the system. The coatings protect Cell Separators, Bipolar and Unipolar plates from corrosion, reducing hydriding & embrittlement which increases the ohmic resistance and can lead to mechanical failure. The result is improved long term component performance and cell lifetime.
The coatings offer the same benefits for macro transport layer meshes and PTLs, such as titanium sinters & felts, as well as being designed to lower the interfacial contact resistances of these components and maintain this over 10,000s of hours. In PTLs the specially designed coatings also protect against oxidation and reduce overpotential, enabling operation at high energy efficiency over long time periods. All these benefits mean that the electrolyser system is able to operate at high energy efficiency over long time periods, which is necessary to make green hydrogen production more competitive.
As well as performance-enhancing component coatings, we have recently launched a new catalyst range, also designed to deliver an enhanced performance of the PEM electrolyser system and proven over 10,000’s of hours. The high-efficiency iridium (Ir) and ruthenium (Ru) anode catalysts are designed for use in the manufacture of Catalyst Coated Membranes (CCMs) and are highly dispersible into inks for ease of use in this application. They are formulated to enable the system to operate at a low voltage, improve long-term durability and ensure high performance.
All of our coating and catalyst technology is rapidly scalable, enabling the company to respond efficiently to demand increases and support the growth of the hydrogen sector. The company has recently doubled coating capacity at the company’s Cornwall base, installed a new coating facility in Schenectady NY and invested in scaling catalyst manufacturing capacity and capability to enable supply in multi-kilogram orders.
We also have a highly experienced team of specialists in chemistry, electrochemistry, electrochemical engineering, materials science and analytical science who can specify the optimum coating formulation for your application. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with our customers to develop coatings to suit their needs, whether this is in terms of durability, cost or efficiency.
SOLUTIONS FOR PEM ELECTROLYSERS
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