TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

ELECTRICAL

Ultra-Low Ionic Resistance in 30wt% KOH 0.09–0.1 Ω·cm²

The most critical specification for AWE separator membranes. IONZERA delivers approximately 3x lower area resistance than Zirfon PERL UTP 500, directly reducing cell voltage and electricity costs per kilogram of hydrogen produced.

ELECTRICAL

IONZERA
Area Specific Resistance ComparisonIONZERA0.09-0.1 Ω·cm²Zirfon0.30 Ω·cm²00.10.20.3 Ω·cm²~3x Lower

0.1 Ω·cm²

IONZERA

0.09–0.1 Ω·cm²

~3x lower resistance

Zirfon

0.30 Ω·cm²

What Is Area Resistance and Why Does It Matter?

Area resistance, measured in Ω·cm², quantifies how much a separator membrane impedes the flow of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) between electrodes in an alkaline electrolyser. It is the single most important specification because it directly determines the voltage drop across the membrane, and therefore the electricity consumed per kilogram of hydrogen.

IONZERA achieves an area resistance of 0.09–0.1 Ω·cm² when measured in 30 wt% KOH electrolyte at room temperature. This is approximately 3x lower than the 0.30 Ω·cm² reported for Zirfon PERL UTP 500 under the same conditions.

Area Specific Resistance ComparisonIONZERA0.09-0.1 Ω·cm²Zirfon0.30 Ω·cm²00.10.20.3 Ω·cm²~3x Lower

How IONZERA Achieves 3x Lower Resistance

Three synergistic design features work together to achieve this breakthrough resistance value:

Optimized pore structure (0.38–0.42 μm) creates wider ion transport pathways while maintaining gas separation
Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets provide additional ion channels and improve electrolyte wettability to a 24° contact angle
Mesh-free construction eliminates the PPS fabric barrier, enabling uniform pore distribution and unimpeded ion flow

Impact on Hydrogen Production Economics

In a typical alkaline electrolyser operating at 0.4 A/cm², the voltage drop across the membrane is approximately 0.04 V with IONZERA versus 0.12 V with Zirfon. This 0.08 V saving per cell compounds dramatically across a 100+ cell stack operating 8,000 hours per year over a 20-year plant lifetime. The cumulative electricity savings often exceed the total membrane cost several times over, making area resistance the most impactful specification for levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH).

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