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MATERIALS FOR NEXT GENERATION ALKALINE ELECTROLYZER

Project description

Big step for next-generation alkaline electrolysers

Produced the right way, hydrogen can be a clean alternative to fossil fuels. The age-old electrolysis method, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen by passing electricity through it, is one of the most promising procedures to achieve this. Alkaline electrolysis is an efficient alternative to other commercial electrolysis methods as it uses no noble metals on catalysts and bipolar plates. However, the lack of an efficient thin ion-exchange conducting membrane results in the build-up of high internal resistance. To address this, the EU-funded NEXTAEC project is developing an ion-solvating membrane that is non-porous and can therefore be as thin as an ion-exchange membrane. The absence of noble metals will enable the technology to be applied in the multi-gigawatt scale – a prerequisite for its commercial roll-out.

Objective

The aim of the NEXTAEC is development of next generation alkaline electrolyzer with a performance comparable to a good PEM electrolyzer or better without the use of noble metals. In brief, the PEM electrolyzer can operate at high current densities (several amperes pr. cm2) due to the low internal resitstance of a thin acidic ion conducting membrane (an ion-exchange membrane). The main drawback is that the acidic system demands noble metal catalysts on both electrodes and expensive noble metal coatings on the bipolar plates and electrode backing. The alkaline electrolyzer, does not rely on noble metals for neither catalysts nor bipolar plates, but it suffers from higher internal resistance because it does not have a thin ion conducting membrane. Despite many years of research, no research groups or companies have been able to develop a satisfactory ion-exchange membrane for the alkaline system. All attempts suffer from sigificantly lower conductivity and poor stability. The alkaline electrolyzer have so far been left with thick porous diaphragms with a significantly higher area-specific resistance, which practically limits the current density to a fraction of an ampere pr. cm2. In the proposed project, an alkaline electroyzer will be developed around a new membrane concept. The membrane is an ion-solvating membrane. It is a polymer, which dissolves the electrolyte of the electrolyzer (aqueous potasium hydroxide). Like an ion-exchange membrane it is nonporous and it can therefore, in contrast to a porous diaphragm, be as thin as an ion exchange membrane. The absense of noble metals makes it possible to roll out the technology in the multi GW scale that is needed in the green transition away from the dependence fossil fuels.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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RIA - Research and Innovation action

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-NMBP-ST-IND-2018-2020

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Coordinator

DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 683 760,00
Address
ANKER ENGELUNDS VEJ 101
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Denmark

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Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Københavns omegn
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 685 000,00

Participants (10)

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