TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
STRUCTURALEngineered Pore Size for Maximum Ion Flow 0.38–0.42 μm
IONZERA's pore size is carefully optimized to maximize hydroxide ion transport while maintaining gas barrier integrity. At 0.38–0.42 μm, the pores are significantly larger than Zirfon's 0.15 μm, yet IONZERA achieves a higher bubble point thanks to its tighter pore size distribution.
IONZERA SPEC
STRUCTURAL
IONZERA
Zirfon
The Pore Size Trade-Off in AWE Separators
Pore size is one of the most critical design parameters for alkaline electrolyser separators because it directly governs the trade-off between ion transport and gas separation. Larger pores allow hydroxide ions to pass more freely (lowering area resistance) but also make it easier for gas bubbles to penetrate (increasing crossover risk). Smaller pores block gas more effectively but increase ionic resistance.
Zirfon PERL UTP 500 uses a pore size of approximately 0.15 μm, heavily weighted toward gas blocking. IONZERA's 0.38–0.42 μm pores are significantly larger, yet IONZERA still achieves a bubble point exceeding 1.3 bar (versus Zirfon's >1.0 bar). This seeming paradox is explained by IONZERA's tighter pore size distribution.
Why Pore Size Distribution Matters More Than Average Pore Size
Gas crossover in a membrane is determined not by the average pore size but by the largest pores. A membrane with many small pores and a few large outliers will leak gas through those outliers. IONZERA's mesh-free manufacturing process produces a remarkably uniform pore structure with minimal outliers:
Optimized for Maximum Ion Flow
The 0.38–0.42 μm pore size was specifically engineered to maximize OH⁻ ion transport in 30 wt% KOH electrolyte. At this pore size, capillary forces ensure complete pore filling with electrolyte, ion transport is not constricted by narrow pore necks, and the membrane achieves its target area resistance of 0.09–0.1 Ω·cm² while maintaining gas crossover below 0.5% H₂ in O₂.
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