FUELSEA
Bio-inspired electrodes


Benefits
- Substitution of scarce resources
- Economy
- Longevity
Key words
- Electrode
- Electrolysis of water
- Electrochlorination
- Decarbonated hydrogen
Partnerships & Rewards
- 2022 i-PhD French Deeptech Innovation Competition Winner
Laboratory
- DCM
Institutions
- CNRS
- UGA
Linksium Continuum
- Maturation
- Incubation
Context
The FuelSea project seeks to revolutionize the nature of electrode coatings for the production of energy (H2) or chlorinated disinfectants. Currently used raw materials are critical and it is essential to reduce their quantity and use more abundant metals.
Technology
The FuelSea technology has enabled the implementation of a manufacturing process for composite materials for the coating of electrodes. This bio-inspired coating contains sub-nanometer sized metal particles with active surfaces enabling higher mass activity than existing technologies. Moreover, this technology allows us to diversify the nature of catalysts by using abundant transition metals.
Advantages
Decrease in the amount of metals deposited (< 10 µg/cm2) on an electrode while maintaining electrocatalytic activity:
- Strategic resources (economic and geopolitical tensions)
- Reduction of the environmental footprint
Stabilization and protection of catalysts against physical and chemical degradation:
- Reduction of aggregation and release of catalyst particles
- Durability of electrodes
State of progress
Electrodes available in the laboratory:
- Mass activity: 5.1 A/mg for water oxidation (pH 9.2; 0.71 V overvoltage)
- Control of the proportions of the different metals in the alloys
- Durability validated over 360 hours of operation (no loss of activity)
- Coating deposited on electrodes from 0.071 to 10 cm²
Under construction:
- Electrolyzer prototype
- Characterization and long-term stability
Applications
- Electrochlorination for the disinfection of swimming pool water
- Production of decarbonated hydrogen by electrolysis of (sea) water
- Production of chlorine by chlor-alkali process

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