ELECTRODE SPECIFICATION
SOLAR CYCLING9-Day Solar Cycling Test
Solar-irradiance data sampled sunrise to sunset was converted into a current-density schedule and applied to our bifunctional NiCo electrode in an AEM cell with a commercial Zirfon separator for 9 continuous days. Peak current density ~570 mA/cm2.
SOLAR CYCLING
TESTBEDThis spec
SOLAR CYCLING
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
How the solar-coupled test was performed
Real-world solar-irradiance data was sampled from sunrise to sunset across 9 days and converted into a current-density schedule for the electrolyzer. The schedule peaks near 570 mA/cm2 during solar-noon windows and drops to zero overnight.
The schedule was applied to a 5 cm2 AEM cell with our bifunctional NiCo electrode on both sides and a commercial Zirfon separator (500 um) at 40 deg C in 30 wt% KOH. The cell was operated continuously across 9 days without resets.
- Source: solar-irradiance data, sunrise to sunset
- Conversion: irradiance to electrolyzer current density
- Peak: ~570 mA/cm2
- Duration: 9 continuous days
- Cell: 5 cm2 AEM, zero-gap, 30 wt% KOH, 40 deg C
- Components: bifunctional NiCo electrode (both sides), commercial Zirfon separator (500 um)
Result
Cell voltage tracked the input profile across all 9 days. No major changes were observed after the 9 cycles. The bifunctional NiCo electrode and commercial Zirfon separator together held their operating envelope across the full duration of the PV-derived schedule.
Why this test matters
A direct-coupled solar electrolyzer (without battery buffer) sees the full daily ramp-up, peak, and ramp-down cycle. Many catalyst and separator combinations show degradation under such transients that they do not show under steady DC. The 9-day result demonstrates that this particular electrode + separator combination tolerates the PV-coupled envelope across multiple consecutive cycles.
Where this specification matters
Industrial applications where solar dynamic load (9-day continuous) is a primary qualification metric.
Frequently asked questions
How is dynamic-load tolerance characterized?
Real PV irradiance (9 days) or wind variation (100 hours) was sampled and converted into a current-density schedule applied to the AEM cell with bifunctional NiCo electrode and commercial Zirfon separator. The 9-day solar run showed no major changes; the 100-hour wind run produced ΔV = 20 mV at 0.5 A/cm² before/after LSV.
How is solar dynamic load (9-day continuous) measured?
All published values were measured in a 5 cm² AEM cell with our bifunctional NiCo electrode on both sides, 30 wt% KOH electrolyte, zero-gap assembly, and a commercial Zirfon separator (500 µm) as the membrane reference. Overpotentials are reported without IR correction.
Can I reproduce this number on my own cell?
Yes. Bench-scale 5 cm² coupons matching the size used in our published AEM test cell are available. Reproducing the cell conditions (30 wt% KOH, zero-gap, commercial Zirfon separator, bifunctional NiCo electrode on both sides) lets a customer team confirm the published number directly.
What substrate sizes can I order?
We produce the bifunctional NiCo electrode on Ni foam in the 100 to 1000 cm² size range. Bench-scale coupons and pilot-scale electrodes both ship from this same product line. Specific sizes can be discussed for OEM stack integration.
Ready to Evaluate IONZERA?
Request a sample to test IONZERA in your application. Our engineering team will support you through qualification and integration.
Request Electrode Sample