Ionomr Innovations completed the Shell GameChanger Accelerator Powered by NREL (GCxN), which provides promising cleantech startups with access to financial resources, state-of-the-art facilities, and world-class technical experts. Ionomr has created and is commercializing a new generation of high-performing, environmentally friendly electrochemical materials that are essential building blocks of a green H₂ economy.

Working with experts at NREL and Shell, and applying industrial and energy agency models, Ionomr has further validated its Aemion+ anion-exchange materials (AEM), providing industry leading performance and lifetimes, capable of reducing the lifecycle system capital cost of H₂ production equipment by water electrolysis by more than 40%. Aemion+ was shown to increase the output of Iridium-free electrolysis systems for water electrolysis while repeatedly demonstrating leading stability over 800h tests. It also demonstrated various efficient and stable configurations for direct conversion of captured CO₂ into liquid fuels improving output by three-fold.

“Through GCxN we were pleased to work with experts at NREL and Shell to validate the material advantages and define the highest-performing reference design conditions to accelerate global expansion of economical green technologies,” said Ionomr CEO Bill Haberlin. “We were further delighted when Shell recognized the potential for Ionomr’s technology and became a co-lead investor in our Series A funding last year.”

Ionomr’s Aemion+ polymers and membranes reduce the cost of green energy because they are designed to eliminate the expensive and scarce components conventionally used for water electrolysis. Materials such as iridium and titanium are replaced with less expensive materials, while performance is enhanced over traditional low-cost alkaline systems and readily pairable with intermittent renewables due to its high ramp rate capability. The membrane technology creates an ultra-stable, lower cost, safer and more flexible system.

Ionomr’s membranes and polymers are synthesized from an environmentally friendly, hydrocarbon base, using a fraction of the energy in their production. They demonstrate no bioaccumulative tendencies and are non-toxic to the environment through production, use, and end-of-life. They present the ideal replacements for conventional membrane and polymer products, all of which contain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.