Advanced Ionics is designing a new generation of electrolyzers specifically for industrial users, such as ammonia/fertilizer production, hydrogenation, metal fabrication, glass, methanol, synthetic fuels/chemicals, and power plants, among others.

Symbiotic™ Electrolysis The Symbion Electrolyzers technology is an innovative approach to hydrogen production, leveraging process or waste heat in industrial settings to significantly reduce electricity usage, typically below 35 kWh/kg, with potentials reaching 30 kWh/kg. This technology operates across a wide temperature range, starting from 100 °C, utilizing steam and excess heat. Additionally, it is cost-effective, eschewing expensive materials like platinum-group metals, iridium, and fluoropolymer membranes, and instead uses abundant, widely available components, making it a financially viable and energy-efficient solution for hydrogen production.

Since the company is still at an early development phase, this information is not yet available. Company will likely raise future rounds of investment and has interest in pilot project partners.

Advanced Ionics couples design features of solid oxide electrolyzers and alkaline electrolyzers in a "new" design that utilizes waste heat above 150ºC. The company has also focused on development of a system that avoids the use of platinum group metals, iridium, and fluoropolymer membranes, to reduce capex and increase sustainability of base components.

One major piece of Advanced Ionics IP is its electrode architecture. In this architecture, the porous anode and cathode are in direct contact at an interface forming a depletion region to ensure charge separation. This electrode architecture enables the electrolyzer to function without polymer membranes and utilize process heat over a broad temperature range. These are built from semiconductor materials rather than expensive metals typically used in Alkaline/PEM electrolyzers.

This electrode design has several advantages:

• Increase the number of three-phase boundary regions where electrochemical reactions can occur;
• Improve the performance, cost, and durability of both galvanic and electrolytic electrochemical devices;
• Eliminate the need for the electrolyte to serve as an electronic insulator; and
• Improve the performance of conventional electrochemical cells, such as fuel cells, by increasing the number of three-phase boundary regions.

Patent: US10253421 Electrochemical cell, method of fabricating the same and method of generating current

Ammonia Producers: This technology is particularly beneficial for ammonia producers who already generate high-temperature steam. By integrating the steam with the electrolyzer technology, they can produce hydrogen at high efficiency.

Green Materials (Including Glass, Fuels, Oils): The growing market for green materials, such as glass and biofuels, demands a decarbonized hydrogen supply for true sustainability. The Symbiotic Electrolyzer Technology facilitates this by offering a low-cost solution for decarbonization, using energy already produced onsite.

Petrochemical Producers: In the petrochemical industry, where hydrogen is already produced in high volumes, this technology offers a way to increase green hydrogen supply cost-effectively. It leverages existing exothermic processes to reduce electricity costs.

Nuclear, Geothermal, and Solar-Thermal Producers: For energy generators, this technology enhances green hydrogen production, crucial for energy storage and arbitrage. By utilizing existing steam production, it reduces the energy requirements for electrolysis, giving these producers a competitive edge.

Steel Makers: In the steel industry, the technology leverages high-temperature steam from steel manufacturing to lower hydrogen supply costs. This is particularly important for producing green steel, as it aids in the reduction of iron ore to iron metal more efficiently and sustainably.