Mattiq and Heraeus Partner to Accelerate Innovations in Electrocatalysts
Mattiq, Collaborate a leading clean chemistry company, has announced a strategic partnership with Heraeus Precious Metals, a global leader in the precious metals industry, to advance the development and commercialization of next-generation electrocatalyst materials for green hydrogen production. This collaboration aims to engineer low-iridium catalysts, significantly reducing the reliance on this rare and critical element in proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers. By doing so, the companies seek to address one of the key challenges in scaling hydrogen production for the global energy transition.
Iridium plays a vital role in PEM water electrolysis, a promising technology for producing zero-carbon green hydrogen. However, its scarcity limits the scale of electrolyzer deployment, making efficient utilization of this resource essential for meeting the growing demand for hydrogen and other electrochemical applications. Current iridium loading requirements present a bottleneck for large-scale production, necessitating innovative solutions that maintain performance while reducing iridium dependency.
Through their collaboration, Mattiq and Heraeus Precious Metals will accelerate the traditional research and development process, shortening the timeline from prototype to commercial-scale solutions. This initiative is expected to drive the rapid adoption of low-iridium catalysts in PEM water electrolysis, supporting the broader goal of reducing costs and improving the accessibility of hydrogen technologies.
Mattiq brings extensive expertise in electrochemical systems design, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence to this partnership. The company has completed the world’s most comprehensive study of low-iridium catalysts for PEM water electrolysis, synthesizing and characterizing over one million unique catalyst materials—an achievement that surpasses all prior research in this area by three orders of magnitude. This cutting-edge approach enables Mattiq to develop high-performance catalysts at an unprecedented pace.
Heraeus Precious Metals, a global leader in precious metals processing, reclamation, and catalyst manufacturing, is actively driving the introduction of low-iridium catalysts through its Hydrogen Systems division. Recognizing the strategic importance of this partnership, Heraeus aims to expedite the commercialization of its innovations, leveraging its extensive experience in catalyst production and large-scale manufacturing. The company’s expertise ensures that identified solutions can be industrially scaled while maintaining reliability and efficiency.
By combining Mattiq’s advanced R&D capabilities with Heraeus’ world-class manufacturing expertise, the partnership seeks to drastically reduce the cycle time for bringing new electrocatalyst innovations to market. This collaboration will not only benefit their respective customers but also contribute to the broader mission of decarbonizing heavy industry through cost-effective and sustainable hydrogen production.
We are excited to strengthen our partnership with Heraeus and leverage their deep knowledge of precious metals and electrocatalysis,” said Jeff Erhardt, CEO of Mattiq. “By merging our strengths in electrochemical system design with Heraeus’ proven capabilities in material development and catalyst manufacturing, we can accelerate the creation of high-performance, low-iridium catalysts. This advancement will significantly lower the cost of electrolyzer manufacturing, ensuring hydrogen’s critical role in industrial decarbonization. Partnering with a trusted and respected industry leader like Heraeus is a tremendous opportunity for us.
“Mattiq’s industry-leading technology platform has positioned them as a pioneer in materials science and catalyst innovation,” said Philipp Walter, Executive Vice President of Hydrogen Systems and Head of Innovation Management at Heraeus Precious Metals. “This collaboration will further strengthen our leadership in electrocatalysis and help drive forward the global energy transition.”
This strategic alliance builds upon the ongoing collaboration between Mattiq and Heraeus, which began in 2023 when Mattiq successfully validated a novel ruthenium-based catalyst for PEM water electrolysis. Moving forward, the companies plan to expand their partnership into new areas of electrocatalysis, aiming to facilitate the economic decarbonization of the chemical industry through innovative catalyst solutions.
Mattiq
Mattiq is at the forefront of clean chemistry innovation, developing advanced electrochemical processes to revolutionize the production of chemicals, fuels, and plastics. By leveraging materials science and artificial intelligence, the company accelerates the design and deployment of commercially viable, sustainable solutions. Mattiq partners with chemical and energy companies to deliver safe, scalable, and cost-effective processes that support a cleaner planet and enhance supply chain resilience.
