DEEE0011345

The main goal of this project is to establish and improve US-based manufacturing capacity of PEMION® non-PFSA ionomers and membranes, validate scalability, and increase production volume.

The 2nd goal is to demonstrate a fully PFSA-free catalyst coated membrane (CCM) using pilot or production scale equipment.

This CCM aims to meet the DOE targets for performance and durability as outlined in subsequent sections.

To do this the team will:

• Establish a US-based production facility (IONOMR).

• Optimize ionomer and membrane manufacturing processes to increase capacity (IONOMR).

• Fabricate a fluorine-free reinforced membrane (IONOMR and sub-recipients).

• Develop fluorine-free catalyst layers and increase understanding thereof (sub-recipients).

• Fabricate high quality, PFSA-free CCMs using scalable methods and equipment (sub-recipients).

• Validate performance and durability in industry-relevant short and full stack FC tests (sub-recipient).

A deeper understanding of PFSA-free CCM formulation-structure-property relationships will enable utilization of PEMION® as both membrane and ionomer in the catalyst layers, doubling its utility and the benefits of the MFG.

Scale up activities. IONOMR possesses considerable internal knowledge on synthesis and scale-up of advanced functional polymers and will collaborate with local industry experts utilizing pre-existing equipment and infrastructure to accelerate this growth through the validation and repeatable manufacturing of PEMION®.

The Rochester, NY and Boston, MA area is home to industry with a skilled workforce and deep history in membrane and polymer manufacturing.

Collaboration with this industry will help enable the goals of this project.

Ionomr Innovations

THE HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE (HFTO) IS ISSUING THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA). AWARDS MADE UNDER THIS FOA WILL BE FUNDED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, WITH FUNDS APPROPRIATED BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL). THE BIL IS A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, DESIGNED TO MODERNIZE AND UPGRADE AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENHANCE UNITED STATES COMPETITIVENESS, DRIVE THE CREATION OF GOOD-PAYING UNION JOBS, TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS, AND ENSURE STRONGER ACCESS TO ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND OTHER BENEFITS FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. THE BIL APPROPRIATES MORE THAN $62 BILLION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) TO INVEST IN AMERICAN MANUFACTURING AND WORKERS; EXPAND ACCESS TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CLEAN ENERGY; DELIVER RELIABLE, CLEAN, AND AFFORDABLE POWER TO MORE AMERICANS; AND DEMONSTRATE AND DEPLOY THE TECHNOLOGIES OF TOMORROW THROUGH CLEAN ENERGY DEMONSTRATIONS. AS PART OF AND IN ADDITION TO UPGRADING AND MODERNIZING INFRASTRUCTURE, DOE’S BIL INVESTMENTS WILL SUPPORT EFFORTS TO BUILD A CLEAN AND EQUITABLE ENERGY ECONOMY THAT ACHIEVES A ZERO-CARBON ELECTRICITY SYSTEM BY 2035, AND TO PUT THE UNITED STATES ON A PATH TO ACHIEVE NET-ZERO EMISSIONS ECONOMY-WIDE BY NO LATER THAN 2050“ TO BENEFIT ALL AMERICANS.

81.087 - Renewable Energy Research and Development

Golden Field Office (GFO) [DOE - EERE]

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) [DOE]

Rochester, New York United States

City-Wide

DE-FOA-0002922