Ecolectro Inc. — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: 19b

Description

There is a lack of membranes that have been developed specifically for Solar Fuels Generators. The membranes that are available have been developed for electrolyzers and fuel cells but not optimized for solar fuel generators where the requirements are different. Currently companies working on solar fuel generators are using commercially available proton exchange membranes or alkaline exchange membranes that were developed for fuel cell and electrolyzer operation. Ecolectro will use their proprietary chemical building blocks to tailor alkaline exchange membranes for solar fuels generators. The membranes tailored herein will have the necessary cross-over, conductivity and durability to achieve high-performance in solar fuels generators. The chemistry and membranes developed herein have significant commercial applications in the hydrogen space in both fuel cell and electrolyzer applications. The use of these chemistries will enable the manufacturers of solar fuels generators, fuel cells and electrolyzers to decrease their cost and bring these materials to market.