Screening process provides a way of testing and identifying non-PGM catalyst materials

A US electrolyser company has developed a screening process for rapidly identifying alternatives to costly and scarce catalysts such as iridium and other rare platinum group metals (PGM) used in electrolysers to produce hydrogen. H2U Technologies Inc, based in Chatsworth, California, claims that its technology offers a clear pathway for the hydrogen industry to scale quickly without facing bottlenecks caused by a lack of material supply or volatile, high costs. Here we look at what this technology entails, briefly explain how it has been used to optimise catalysts for electrolyser stacks and report on a partnership that aims to address cost and supply chain issues for rare PGM electro-catalyst materials.