GREEN METHANOL
GREEN METHANOLOur NiCo Electrode for Green Methanol Synthesis
E-methanol synthesis combines green hydrogen with captured CO2 to produce a liquid fuel and chemical feedstock. Our bifunctional NiCo electrode supplies the hydrogen at 91.4% energy efficiency at 0.5 A/cm2 with a commercial Zirfon separator.
Polarization (RT vs 60 °C)
TESTBEDHydrogen feedstock at 91.4% efficiency
Bifunctional NiCo electrode + commercial Zirfon separator in an AEM cell: 0.5 A/cm2 at 1.62 V at 60 deg C. E-methanol economics scale with this number.
Continuous operation supported
1000 hours at 0.5 A/cm2 / 40 deg C with 21 uV/hr voltage drift. Methanol plants need steady hydrogen supply.
Bifunctional
Same coated electrode HER and OER. 80 mV / 260 mV overpotential at 100 mA/cm2, no IR correction.
Renewable-coupled tolerance
9 days solar / 100 hours wind dynamic-load validated.
Green methanol pathway
E-methanol (also called green methanol or renewable methanol) is produced by combining green hydrogen with captured CO2 in a catalytic synthesis reactor. The product can be used as a marine fuel, a hydrogen carrier, or a chemical feedstock.
Our bifunctional NiCo electrode on Ni foam (100 to 1000 cm2), electroless-deposited, operates as both HER cathode and OER anode at 80 mV and 260 mV overpotential at 100 mA/cm2 in 30 wt% KOH (no IR correction). The hydrogen side of an e-methanol plant uses this electrode.
0.5 A/cm2 @ 60 deg C
1.0 A/cm2 @ 60 deg C
Cell-level performance with commercial Zirfon separator
In a 5 cm2 AEM cell with our bifunctional NiCo electrode on both sides and a commercial Zirfon separator (500 um), 0.5 A/cm2 at 1.62 V at 60 deg C (91.4% efficiency). At 1.0 A/cm2: 1.79 V at 60 deg C. These are the published operating points for e-methanol project teams sizing their hydrogen plant.
1000-hour stability for continuous synthesis
Methanol synthesis reactors run continuously to maintain catalyst temperature and conversion. The 1000-hour run with our bifunctional NiCo electrode on both sides and a commercial Zirfon separator at 0.5 A/cm2 and 40 deg C in 30 wt% KOH showed 21 uV/hr voltage drift.
Renewable-coupled e-methanol plants
E-methanol projects often co-locate with renewables to control input power cost. Our bifunctional NiCo electrode in the AEM cell with commercial Zirfon separator was tested under PV-derived current schedules for 9 days (peaks ~570 mA/cm2) and wind-derived schedules for 100 hours (0 to 0.78 A/cm2). DeltaV after wind cycling: 20 mV at 0.5 A/cm2.
PV-derived current profile
9 DAYSWind-derived current profile
100 HRBench-scale evaluation for FEED studies
E-methanol project FEED studies require performance data with traceable conditions. Our published numbers (5 cm2 AEM test cell, bifunctional NiCo electrode on both sides, commercial Zirfon separator, 30 wt% KOH, zero-gap) are the data points project teams can cite or reproduce.
Frequently asked questions
Why use a bifunctional NiCo electrode for methanol synthesis?
Our bifunctional NiCo electrode operates as both HER cathode and OER anode at 80 mV and 260 mV overpotential at 100 mA/cm² in 30 wt% KOH (no IR correction). For methanol synthesis, using a single electrode SKU on both sides simplifies stack BOM and qualification.
What cell-level performance is published?
In a 5 cm² AEM cell with bifunctional NiCo electrode on both sides and a commercial Zirfon separator (500 µm) at zero-gap, the cell logs 0.5 A/cm² at 1.81 V at room temperature (82% efficiency) and 1.62 V at 60 °C (91.4%). At 1.0 A/cm²: 2.05 V at RT and 1.79 V at 60 °C.
What is the stability baseline?
Continuous 1000-hour chronopotentiometry at 0.5 A/cm² and 40 °C in 30 wt% KOH (bifunctional NiCo electrode on both sides, commercial Zirfon separator) showed voltage drift of 21 µV/hr. Before/after linear-sweep polarization curves differ by 30 mV at the operating point.
Is the electrode validated for renewable-coupled operation?
Yes. PV-irradiance-derived current schedules applied for 9 continuous days (peaks ~570 mA/cm²) and wind-variation-derived schedules for 100 hours (0 to 0.78 A/cm²) on the same cell. ΔV at 0.5 A/cm² before and after the 100-hour wind run: 20 mV.
What substrate sizes ship?
The bifunctional NiCo electrode is produced on Ni foam in the 100 to 1000 cm² size range. Bench-scale 5 cm² coupons matching the published test cell are also available so customers can reproduce numbers on their own rig before scaling up.
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