Mattiq, a clean chemistry company, and Heraeus Precious Metals, a global leader in the precious metals industry, today announced a strategic partnership on green hydrogen production. The collaboration aims to significantly reduce the reliance on iridium, a scarce and critical material, in proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers, paving the way for more affordable and scalable green hydrogen production.

Green hydrogen, produced through water electrolysis powered by renewable energy, is considered a cornerstone of the global transition to a sustainable energy future. PEM water electrolysis, a leading technology in this field, currently relies heavily on iridium as a catalyst. However, iridium's rarity and high cost pose a significant bottleneck to the widespread adoption of PEM electrolyzers. The partnership between Mattiq and Heraeus directly addresses this challenge.

The core focus of this collaboration is the development of low-iridium catalysts for PEM water electrolyzers. By minimizing the amount of iridium required, the companies aim to drastically reduce the cost of electrolyzer manufacturing, making green hydrogen a more economically viable alternative to traditional hydrogen production methods. This advancement is crucial for decarbonizing heavy industries that rely on hydrogen, such as chemical manufacturing and transportation.

Mattiq brings to the partnership its cutting-edge expertise in electrochemical systems design and a powerful technology platform that leverages nanotechnology, chemistry, and artificial intelligence. The company has already made significant strides in this area, having recently completed the world's most comprehensive study of low-iridium catalysts for PEM water electrolysis. This groundbreaking research involved the synthesis and characterization of over one million unique catalyst materials, significantly surpassing all previous efforts in the field.

Heraeus Precious Metals, a recognized leader in precious metals reclamation, processing, and catalyst manufacturing, contributes its extensive experience in material development and large-scale production. Their dedicated Hydrogen Systems business line has been instrumental in driving the adoption of low-iridium catalysts for PEM electrolysis globally. Heraeus will play a crucial role in scaling up the production of the newly developed catalysts, ensuring their availability for industrial applications.

“We are excited to expand our collaboration with Heraeus and leverage their deep expertise in precious metals and electrocatalysis,” said Jeff Erhardt, CEO of Mattiq. “By combining our core competence in electrochemical systems design with Heraeus’ world-class capabilities in material development and catalyst manufacturing, we can jointly accelerate the development of high-performance, low-iridium catalysts that can lower the cost of electrolyzer manufacturing.”

Philipp Walter, EVP of Hydrogen Systems and Head of Innovation Management at Heraeus Precious Metals, added, “Through its industry-leading technology platform, Mattiq has established itself as a pioneer in materials science and catalyst development. This partnership will bolster our position as a leading innovator in electrocatalysis and support our efforts in accelerating the energy transition.”