Sibanye-Stillwater and Heraeus to develop and market novel catalysts for hydrogen electrolysis

Source: Energy & Management Powernews, August 19, 2022

The metal supplier Sibanye-Stillwater and the technology group Heraeus want to partner to develop and market novel catalysts for hydrogen electrolysis.

Hydrogen is created in electrolysis from water and electricity. In order for the hydrogen atoms to separate from the oxygen in the water in the electrolyzer, catalysts are needed. Today, these mostly consist of extremely rare and expensive metals from the platinum group. In order to replace the particularly rare iridium, the metal supplier Sibanye-Stillwater and the technology group Heraeus Precious Metals want to cooperate in a research project.

The goal is "catalysts with high activity and stability for proton exchange membrane electrolysers (PEM electrolysers)" that use ruthenium, for example. The development project would be funded equally by the two parties over a three-year period. The results will be jointly commercialized, the companies announced.

Iridium is extremely precious

Platinum and iridium are currently essential components of electrocatalysts for the production of green hydrogen by PEM electrolysis. However, iridium is one of the rarest platinum metals and its limited availability poses a potential barrier to future large-scale adoption of PEM electrolysers, the companies fear. Therefore, reducing iridium loading in PEM electrocatalysts is key to ensuring a sustainable hydrogen ecosystem.

This will allow PEM technology to operate at a competitive cost and reach triple-digit gigawatt output within the next decade, the research partners expect. Technologies that reduce iridium or replace it with ruthenium, for example, offer great potential, they say. The partners aim to develop a new, robust solution based on substituting iridium with other metals and developing more sophisticated metal oxide structures.

The developers

"With our combined expertise and resources, we are confident of developing new solutions that will further strengthen the role of PEM electrolysis in the hydrogen economy," said Philipp Walter, executive vice president of new business development at Heraeus Precious Metals.

Heraeus Precious Metals, based in Hanau, Germany, is an international technology group with technical and professional expertise in the development of electrocatalysts for PEM electrolysis and in innovative solutions for the sustainable and cost-effective use of precious metal catalysts. "We are ready to invest in a sustainable feedstock strategy to enable cost-effective electrolysis," Walter said.

As a leading supplier of metals such as platinum, iridium and ruthenium, Sibanye-Stillwater is investing in market development and innovative technologies that will enable sustainable demand for the metals the company produces. "Our goal is to ensure that our metals, including platinum group metals, play a critical role in unlocking the future green economy, for example in hydrogen," explained Neal Froneman, CEO of the South African company.

Author: Susanne Harmsen