Project description DEENESFRITPL A green path for proton exchange membrane electrolysers Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The increased interest in green hydrogen – produced by water electrolysis using renewable energy as source of power – is increasing the need for proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis. In this context, the EU-funded AdIrCAT project will develop the emerging atomically dispersed metal iridium (Ir) catalysts, which will maximise the utilisation of Ir and significantly improve the mass activity of Ir catalysts. A method will also be developed that potentially allows for upscale production of atomically dispersed Ir catalysts. The success of this project will benefit the widespread deployment of PEM electrolysers and make electrolysed hydrogen fuel economically competitive. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The “green hydrogen” produced by water electrolysis using renewable energy as power input will play a vital role in the decarbonization of various sectors, particularly the heavy industry and freight road transport where electrification is impossible or too costly. Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a very promising low-temperature technology, and has a number of advantages over the conventional alkaline water electrolysis. However, the usage of precious and scarce noble metal iridium (Ir) to catalyze the thermodynamically and kinetically demanding oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is indispensable to achieve decent electrolysis performance. To enable widespread deployment of PEM electrolyzers and make electrolyzed hydrogen fuel economically competitive, the utilization of Ir in electrolyzers must be reduced without comprising the catalytic performance for the OER. The AdIrCAT project aims at developing the emerging atomically dispersed Ir catalysts, which will maximize the utilization of Ir and meanwhile improve the mass activity of Ir catalysts by a factor of at least 5. Moreover, a method will be developed that potentially allows for upscale production of atomically dispersed Ir catalysts. The catalysts will be accessed not only in the half-cell configuration but also in membrane electrode assemblies under industry-relevant conditions in collaboration with a company where the applicant will have her secondment. The applicant and host group have complementary expertise that can be transferred to each other. The host institution will offer the applicant a range of training to enhance her competences and skills in terms of proposal preparation, project management, leadership, and science communications. Successful implementation of this project will help the applicant reach her professional maturity and remarkably enhance her future career prospects as a female scientist, leading her to find a tenure-track position after the Fellowship. Fields of science natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysisnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energyhydrogen energy Keywords single atom catalyst PEM electrolysis oxygen evolution reaction iridium large scale synthesis electrocatalytic test Programme(s) H2020-EU.4. - SPREADING EXCELLENCE AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION Main Programme Topic(s) WF-03-2020 - Widening Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-WF-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-WF-03-2020 Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator INTERNATIONAL IBERIAN NANOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY Net EU contribution € 159 815,04 Address AVENIDA MESTRE JOSE VEIGA 4715-330 Braga Portugal See on map Region Continente Norte Cávado Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 159 815,04
