| IRION addresses the urgent need for sustainable solutions in the hydrogen economy by developing innovative recycling and manufacturing technologies for critical components of proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). The current reliance on scarce and expensive materials, such as iridium and fluorinated ionomers, poses significant economic, environmental, and geopolitical challenges for large-scale green hydrogen deployment. IRION tackles these issues by recovering these valuable materials from end-of-life catalyst coated membranes (CCMs), enabling their reintegration into new components and supporting the circularity of the PEMWE value chain. the project focuses on eco-friendly, low-impact recovery processes, including ionic liquids, DES, other green solvents and electrodeposition which offer high selectivity and efficiency while avoiding hazardous emissions associated with traditional methods like calcination. The recovered iridium and ionomers are purified and reused to manufacture new CCMs using advanced techniques such as inkjet printing and sputtering, ensuring optimal catalyst dispersion and membrane integration. IRION also includes the validation of recycled CCMs in real PEMWE systems, assessing their performance and durability compared to commercial materials. Comprehensive life cycle (LCA) and techno-economic (TEA) assessments will be performed to evaluate the environmental and economic viability of the proposed solutions. Moreover, the project will explore eco-design strategies for stack components, facilitating their future dismantling and recyclability. Ultimately, IRION supports Europe’s objectives under the Green Deal and Critical Raw Materials Act, reducing dependency on imports and minimizing environmental impacts through a circular and scalable approach to green hydrogen technologies. |
