Nanoionics Proton Conducting Electrolyte

Hydrogen can be used to compliment battery electrification to successfully transition energy to a carbon neutral future. However, this requires more efficient renewable hydrogen production, handling, and usage through better devices. The objective of this Phase I project is to develop a new nanocomposite membrane to simultaneously improve these devices though a materials approach. The new material augments nanoscale interfacial phenomena to impart proton conductivity at elevated temperatures. Technical hurdles that will be addressed include translating materials discovery into a device ready membrane, integration into a functional catalyst coated membrane, comparison to go-no go metrics, and demonstrating device level data with the new system. The clear deliverable at the end of Phase 1 is a catalyst coated membrane that is ready for integrated electrochemical compressor testing. Superior hydrogen devices like fuel cells, electrolyzers and electrochemical compressors enabled by new membranes can realize renewable usage of hydrogen as a multi-vector solution for the future of energy. New nanocomposite membranes will spawn new applied research on these devices and spur basic research on heterogeneous ion transport at interfaces. Globally, hydrogen bolsters U.S energy security by reducing reliance on critical raw materials that are geographically constrained while leveraging existing industrial expertise and gas infrastructure. Economically, the transition to the hydrogen economy would avert 6 Gt of CO2 emissions while creating an estimated 2.5 trillion in revenue and 30 million new jobs by mid-century.