The SpinCat revealed earth-abundant nanomaterial-based magnetic catalysts for innovative magnetically-enhanced anion exchange membrane electrolysis to produce low-cost green hydrogen, which is needed for the decarbonization of the energy and chemical sectors. Accordingly, SpinCat contributed to the EU Green Deal, the EU Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials, and the EU Industrial Strategy.
SpinCat has deployed state-of-the-art synthesis and characterization techniques, which afforded magnetic catalytic materials with high activity and durability employed in SpinCat's magnetically-enhanced anion exchange membrane electrolyzer prototype.
SpinCat has developed a reliable magnetoelectrochemical method for the investigation of the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction under an applied magnetic field. This was achieved through establishing the best protocol for catalyst ink formulation, understanding the magnetoelectrochemical aging process, and optimizing the magnetoelectrochemical testing conditions.
SpinCat has demonstrated that its infrastructure, with respect to theoretical screening, was in place, and experimental results emerged that agreed with the theoretical search criteria. SpinCat was working on novel computational methods for understanding the connections between magnetism and heterogeneous catalysis that made screening processes much more reliable and faster. A set of descriptors with physical meaning based on bulk properties was established and verified experimentally.
The gas diffusion electrode approach for the fabrication of the membrane electrode assembly and the selection of diffusion media were affirmed. Experimentally, SpinCat has selected a proprietary anion exchange membrane for electrolysis to be used in SpinCat's anion exchange membrane electrolysis efforts. SpinCat has constructed two conventional anion exchange membrane electrolysis test benches, as well as constructed several anion exchange membrane electrolysis cells, affording the application of the magnetic field. These efforts culminated in a working magnetically-enhanced anion exchange membrane electrolyzer prototype.
The membrane electrode assembly based on SpinCat catalyst demonstrated strong performance enhancements when operated under a magnetic field, with a 14% increase in hydrogen production compared to non-magnetic conditions. Compared to established benchmarked technologies, SpinCat anion exchange membrane electrolysis under an applied magnetic field matched proton exchange membrane electrolysis in hydrogen output while reducing catalyst costs by 50%, offering a significant cost advantage, and outperformed conventional alkaline electrolysis in 4 times higher hydrogen production. These results indicate that SpinCat technology, particularly under magnetic field operation, offers a highly promising and cost-effective pathway for advanced green hydrogen production.
