Heraeus Precious Metals and VSParticle (VSP) have entered into a collaboration to explore VSP’s spark ablation technology for the production of next generation Porous Transport Electrodes (PTEs), used in proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis.

Reducing iridium consumption is one of the key challenges in scaling PEM water electrolysis, since iridium is indispensable for PEM Electrolysis, yet it is among the scarcest elements on earth. Recent iridium price hikes furthermore add an additional momentum for thrifting of iridium in PEM Electrolysis.

The collaboration focuses on enabling highly efficient metal deposition with significantly reduced iridium loading (below 0.2 mg iridium/cm²). To achieve this, the partners will utilize VSP’s spark ablation technology that is able to coat the PTL with ultra-pure nanoparticles of 2-20 nm in size. They form an ultra-thin, high-performance nanoporous layer with substantially less iridium. Heraeus intends to bring these PTE products to the market as a scalable solution for reducing the overall cost of producing green hydrogen by means of PEM Electrolysis. An improved electrode structure can enhance stack efficiency and extend operational lifetime.

“Scaling the hydrogen economy requires continuous innovation across the entire value chain,” said Dr. Philipp Walter, Executive Vice President, Business Line Hydrogen Systems at Heraeus Precious Metals. “Reducing iridium use is one of the most pressing challenges in PEM electrolysis. By combining our deep expertise in precious metals and precious metal catalysts with VSParticle’s breakthrough technology, we can offer PTE products that help stack manufacturers scale faster and at lower cost.”

Aaike van Vugt, CEO of VSParticle, added: “Our mission is to unlock new possibilities in materials manufacturing that directly support the growth of clean technologies. By partnering with Heraeus Precious Metals, we ensure that our technology can be deployed at industrial scale, enabling PTE products that reduce costs, simplify production, and boost electrolyzer performance. This collaboration helps bring green hydrogen closer to global competitiveness.”

Together, Heraeus Precious Metals and VSParticle are enabling a new generation of high performance, low iridium PTEs designed for large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing: supporting the rapid expansion of green hydrogen production worldwide.