ADVENT Technologies is an innovation-driven company in the fuel cell and hydrogen technology space. Our vision is to accelerate electrification through advanced materials, components, and next-generation fuel cell technology. Our technology applies to electrification (fuel cells) and energy storage (flow batteries, hydrogen production) markets, and we intend to commercialize it through partnerships with Tier1s, OEMs, and System Integrators.

In 2021 SerEnergy A/S, fischer Eco Systems and UltraCell LLC merged into one Advent organization, launching the Company into the forefront of fuel cell and systems companies that supply the entire technology chain from components to MEAs to stacks and systems. Currently Advent has operations in Boston, Massachusetts; Livermore, California (USA); Athens and Patras (GR); Aalborg (DK); Achern (DE); Manila (Philippines); and headquarters in Boston.

Applications for the current HT PEM technology are limited to those that can operate on relatively lower current density compared to state-of-the-art LT PEM, and thus transportation applications were largely focused toward HT PEM stacks acting as efficient battery range extenders using fuels such as methanol. On the other hand, LT PEM fuel cell stacks are limited when it comes to heavy duty applications such as fuel cell electric trucks and aeronautical applications due to a limited heat gradient for cooling.

A HT PEM MEA that operates at higher current over a wider range of temperatures including start up at under 100 °C would represent a paradigm shift in the HT PEM field and open up a wide range of new applications including competing in areas traditionally dominated by LT PEM while at the same time solving the burden of cooling for heavy duty applications. Furthermore, stacks that operate over 120 °C are amendable to advanced, compact cooling systems that have the potential to greatly reduce the fuel cell system weight and volume.

In a competitive process, Advent was selected as the commercialization partner for a new HT PEM technology pioneered by US Department of Energy scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratories. This next generation HT PEM technology is based on strongly formed ion pairs between a charged membrane and phosphoric acid, and has been shown to operate at far higher current density than possible with current HT PEM MEAs while at the same time exhibiting substantially lower degradation rates. This presentation will focus on the current status of our commercialization of the ion pair technology as well as introduce innovative cooling methodologies that leverage the higher operating temperature of HT PEM.