Alkaline Water Electrolysis
Alkaline water electrolysis is one of the most mature pathways for producing low-carbon hydrogen from renewable electricity. It consists of splitting water into hydrogen (at the cathode) and oxygen (at the anode) within a concentrated alkaline electrolyte (typically a potassium hydroxide, KOH, solution), using metallic electrodes (notably nickel, in the form of meshes or foams).
This industrially proven technology still faces several challenges in supporting large-scale integration with intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. These challenges include material durability in highly concentrated alkaline environments, the management of frequent start-up and shutdown cycles, and overall system safety.
Managing Gas Crossover During Standby Phases
One of the major challenges of alkaline electrolysis coupled with intermittent energy sources is the management of gas crossover (H₂/O₂ mixing) during standby phases, when the electrical supply is interrupted or fluctuates. Materia Nova has developed expertise in selective passivation coatings deposited on metallic mesh electrodes, enabling the local inhibition of electrochemical reactions at targeted locations on the electrode without compromising the overall conductivity or gas permeability of the system.
This approach builds on our proven coating technologies (sol-gel, spray pyrolysis, sputtering, and PECVD), as well as our advanced capabilities for assessing chemical resistance and gas permeability.
Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) Catalysts
The performance of alkaline electrolysis largely depends on the kinetics of the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) at the anode, which is recognized as one of the key technological bottlenecks in the sector. Materia Nova owns patented catalysts originally developed for the electro-oxidation of contaminants in aqueous solutions. These catalysts have demonstrated excellent activity for the OER, opening promising opportunities for directly enhancing the performance of alkaline electrolyzers.
Our expertise in electrodeposition also extends to the synthesis of electrocatalysts for other aqueous electrochemical processes, including the electro-oxidation of contaminants in wastewater streams (combined with H₂ co-production) and the electro-reduction of CO₂ for its conversion into value-added e-molecules.
Associated Facilities and Expertise
- Deposition of functional coatings: sol-gel, spray pyrolysis (AACVD), PVD, PECVD, electrodeposition
- Characterization of chemical resistance in concentrated alkaline environments
- Gas permeability characterization
Are you developing electrolysis solutions and interested in exploring a collaboration on material durability or gas crossover management?
