ELECTRODE COMPARISON
OVERVIEWTransition-Metal and PGM Catalysts
A broad educational overview of two electrocatalyst families: first-row transition metals (Ni, Co, Fe, Mn) and platinum-group metals (Pt, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os). Our electrode is a transition-metal (NiCo) catalyst.
Our electrode polarization
TESTBEDOur electrode in numbers
HER overpotential
@ 100 mA/cm² (no IR)
OER overpotential
@ 100 mA/cm² (no IR)
Cell @ 0.5 A/cm², 60 °C
91.4% efficiency
1000-hour drift
@ 0.5 A/cm² / 40 °C
All measured in a 5 cm² AEM cell, 30 wt% KOH, zero-gap, commercial Zirfon separator (500 µm).
Side-by-side: our electrode and Platinum-Group-Metal Electrocatalysts
Factual differentiation only. No fabricated numeric claims about alternatives; consult their vendor data for performance comparison.
| Parameter | Our electrode | Platinum-Group-Metal Electrocatalysts | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Element group | First-row transition metals (Ni, Co) | Platinum-group metals (Pt, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os) | Different blocks of the periodic table |
| Typical electrolyzer technology | Alkaline (AWE, AEM) | PEM (acid membrane) | Different cell architectures |
| Common form | Coated on metal foam or mesh | Nanoparticles on carbon or oxide support | Different morphologies |
| Approximate global production | Large (Ni and Co are widely mined) | Small (PGMs are rare) | Different supply dynamics |
Two catalyst families
Electrochemists divide catalysts for water splitting into two broad families based on what metals they contain. First-row transition metals (Ni, Co, Fe, Mn) sit in one family. Platinum-group metals (Pt, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os) sit in the other. Both families have catalytic activity for HER and OER; the activity, mechanism, and stability profile differ.
Our bifunctional NiCo electrode is in the first family. The bi-metallic catalyst is deposited onto Ni foam by electroless deposition.
Where each family is typically used
PGM catalysts are typically associated with PEM (proton exchange membrane) electrolyzers. The acidic environment of PEM cells dissolves most non-PGM catalysts, so platinum and iridium oxides are the established choice.
Transition-metal catalysts like NiCo are well-suited to alkaline environments (KOH electrolyte). Our published numbers (80 mV HER, 260 mV OER at 100 mA/cm2, no IR correction) are from a 30 wt% KOH AEM cell.
Cell architecture context
Choosing the catalyst family is closely tied to choosing the cell architecture. A NiCo-on-Ni-foam electrode is a direct fit for alkaline electrolyzer designs. It is not a drop-in for PEM stacks.
In our published AEM cell with bifunctional NiCo electrode on both sides and a commercial Zirfon separator (500 um), the cell delivers 0.5 A/cm2 at 1.62 V at 60 deg C (91.4% energy efficiency).
No "ours wins" claims here
This page describes two different catalyst families. It does not claim that our electrode performs better than any specific PGM catalyst product in any specific cell. For PGM catalyst performance data, consult the vendors of those products directly.
Where this comparison matters
Applications where stack OEMs typically evaluate both options.
Key electrode specifications
Source-supported parameters of our electrode for this comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is our electrode a drop-in replacement for Pt/Ir in PEM electrolyzers?
No. PEM electrolyzers operate in acidic environments where non-PGM catalysts typically dissolve, so Pt and Ir oxides are the established choice there. Our bifunctional NiCo electrode on Ni foam is designed for alkaline electrolyzers (AWE and AEM) operating in concentrated KOH.
Does this page claim our electrode performs better than Platinum-Group-Metal Electrocatalysts?
No. This page is informational. It states what our bifunctional NiCo electrode is and what the alternative is, using source-supported facts only. We do not publish numeric performance claims against specific alternative products. For alternative-product performance data, consult the vendor of that product directly.
What numbers are published for our electrode?
HER overpotential 80 mV and OER overpotential 260 mV at 100 mA/cm² in 30 wt% KOH, measured without IR correction. Cell-level performance with the bifunctional NiCo electrode on both sides and a commercial Zirfon separator (500 µm) in a 5 cm² AEM zero-gap cell: 0.5 A/cm² at 1.81 V at RT (82% efficiency) and 1.62 V at 60 °C (91.4%). 1000-hour stability at 21 µV/hr drift.
Can I run side-by-side bench tests in my own cell?
Yes. We supply 5 cm² coupons that match the size used in our published AEM test cell. Stack OEMs evaluating both options typically run side-by-side qualification on their own cell as the decision step. Bench-scale and pilot-scale electrodes (up to 1000 cm²) are both available.
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