Server Infos
Server:
Server IP:
Environment:
Authorized User:
cm-p115160-e1228952-aem-publish-869d46f6bf-vx4l5
172.16.67.249
publish,local
Elements

Topics

The element from outer space

In my Element Hydrogen Electrolysis
Reading Time 2 min
November 25, 2024

Iridium probably came to Earth through asteroid impacts. Today, it is in great demand for the production of green hydrogen. Zahra Nasri explains why.

“More green hydrogen from less iridium”

The earth’s crust contains only small quantities of iridium. However, the concentrations are higher in meteorites. Many scientists therefore attribute the fact that we find iridium on our planet at all to an asteroid impact, which could also have sealed the fate of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

Zahra Nasri stands in front of a silver wall. She is wearing lab coats and purple gloves. She is holding a flat object with a gray, rectangular surface in the middle.
Zahra Nasri is an electrochemist and Chief Scientific Officer of the Hamburg-based startup elementarhy. The company has developed membrane electrode assembly for proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. Electrolyzers are essential for converting volatile renewable energies into green hydrogen and decarbonizing industry

The metal is in high demand, including in the automotive and electronics industries. Iridium is corrosion-resistant and has a high melting point. The element also has excellent electrocatalytic properties and high chemical stability. These properties also make iridium an excellent catalyst for hydrogen electrolyzers. The ever-increasing demand for green hydrogen and renewable energies will lead to a shortage of the metal in the future. By 2030, the demand for iridium could be three times as high as the supply. As a result, we have to do everything we can to conserve our iridium reserves and thus make hydrogen production cheaper.

And that’s precisely what we are doing at elementarhy. We develop membrane electrode assembly for the anode in proton exchange membrane electrolyzers, which require only one twentieth of the amount of iridium contained in conventional anodes. I’m very proud of that fact.

When I was a university student I already knew that I wanted to use my knowledge to create added value for society. After a few years in basic research, I decided to work on a product and its market launch myself.

ELEMENTS-Newsletter

Receive exciting insights into Evonik's research and its social relevance - conveniently by e-mail.

With our product, we reduce the cost of membrane electrode assembly by up to 50 percent and enable hydrogen electrolyzer manufacturers to scale up their production. The feedback from our customers gives me confidence, which is a huge motivating factor for me.