The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Fuel Cell Innovation - Dr. Dan Brett Electrochemical Innovation Lab Department of Chemical Engineering UK-Japan Energy Technology Innovation Showcase Oct 2014

University College London (UCL) Founded in 1826 Top 10 universities in the world - 5th QS World League Tables The first to admit students regardless of class, race or religion The first to admit women students on equal terms with men Third oldest University set up as an alternative to Oxbridge Previously university education only available to one group of society

University College London (UCL) - Alumni

University College London (UCL) - Links with Japan 150th Anniversary of Japan’s Choshu Five Hirobumi Ito, the father of the Japanese Constitution and the first Prime Minister of post Meiji-Japan. Kaoru Inoue became Japan’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Kinsuke Endo was the founding Master of the Japanese Mint Bureau Masaru Inoue became the founding President of the Japanese Board of Railways Yozo Yamao became Secretary of State in Japan’s Ministry of Industry and established Japan’s first Institute of Technology

What is electrochemical technology? Overview What is electrochemical technology? The Electrochemical Innovation Lab (EIL) concept. An example of EIL open innovation Amalyst Ltd. spin-out The Flexi-Planar Fuel Cell

What is Electrochemical Technology? Electrochemistry: n. The science of the interaction or interconversion of electric and chemical phenomena.

What is Electrochemical Technology? Modern Innovative Technology Established Technology Fuel cells Advanced batteries Solar cells Supercapacitors Electrolysers (hydrogen production) Advanced sensors CO2 conversion Nuclear reprocessing Chlor-alkali process Aluminium electrolysis Anodising Electroetching / deposition Corrosion prevention Wastewater treatment Waste electronics treatment Electrosynthesis

The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Concept Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lab R&D Pilot plant trials Industrial Electrochemical Engineering Fundamental Electrochemistry Electrochemical Technology Electrodes Interfaces Electrolytes Potential distribution Current distribution Hydrodynamics Mass transport Reactor geometry Reactor components Reactor performance Process design Commissioning Maintenance Testing Fabrication Marketing

The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Concept Fundamental Electrochemistry Electrochemical Technology Industrial Engineering Pilot plant trials Lab R&D Technology Readiness Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Electrodes Interfaces Electrolytes Potential distribution Current distribution Hydrodynamics Mass transport Reactor geometry Reactor components Reactor performance Process design Commissioning Maintenance Testing Fabrication Marketing

The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Concept Industrial experience / input. Commercial thinking embodied in research phase Cost and market modelling. Scale-up and scale-out consideration. Reality checks. Builds new research programmes to accelerate the science into commercial products Most university research is here… …and never goes any higher. Technology Readiness Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lab R&D Pilot plant trials Industrial Electrochemical Engineering Fundamental Electrochemistry Electrochemical Technology

(UCL Chem. Eng. and Amalyst) The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - People (Management Team and IAG) Dan Brett (UCL Chem. Eng.) Jawwad Darr (UCL Chemistry) Tim Fishlock (UCLB) Paul Shearing (UCL Chem. Eng.) MANAGEMENT TEAM David Hodgson (Vallontia) Richard Bucknall (UCL Mech. Eng.) Nick Milligan (pV3) Chris Gibbs (UCL Chem. Eng. and Amalyst) Stef Simons (UCL Australia)

The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Partners and Sponsors

Facilities

Excellent facilities: over £11million of current funding The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - World class facilities Excellent facilities: over £11million of current funding "Zeiss-UCL Lighthouse Centre on Correlative Microscopy" best university-based suite of ion beam and high res X-ray microscopes in the world

Spent nuclear fuel processing The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Commercial Pipeline Down stream Spent nuclear fuel processing High temperature sensors for crude oil characterisation Novel battery materials Methods for making nanomaterials Fuel cells made from printed circuit boards Novel Pt-free electrocatalyst

Facilities Expertise Manpower The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Open Innovation Example INNOVATION Background IP Kit / Expertise Facilities Expertise Manpower Commercial Expertise / Network Complimentary expertise, needs and offerings

Facilities Expertise Manpower The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Open Innovation Example Background IP Kit / Expertise Facilities Expertise Manpower ‘Spin in’ Commercial Expertise / Network Coming together

Facilities Expertise Manpower The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Open Innovation Example A low-cost, high efficiency catalyst with equivalent performance to Pt Fuel cells Electrolysers (hydrogen production) Background IP Kit / Expertise Facilities Expertise Manpower Background IP Strengthened ‘Spin in’ Foreground IP Generated Commercial Expertise / Network Strengthening and generating IP

Facilities Expertise Manpower The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Open Innovation Example Background IP Kit / Expertise Facilities Expertise Manpower Background IP Strengthened NewCo HoT Signed ‘Spin in’ Foreground IP Generated PoC Funding Commercial Expertise / Network Spin out

collaboration / pipeline Facilities Expertise Manpower The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Open Innovation Example Background IP Kit / Expertise Ready for new collaboration / pipeline Facilities Expertise Manpower Background IP Strengthened NewCo HoT Signed ‘Spin in’ Foreground IP Generated PoC Funding NewCo Formed 1st Round Investment Commercial Expertise / Network Licence in Investor/s Here Second Round Investment and customers

The Electrochemical Innovation Lab - Amalyst Summary 1. Lower cost than Pt at same performance levels in water electrolysers and fuel cells. 2. A true ‘drop-in’ replacement for Pt. 3. Available for evaluation and sale. 4. Second investment round currently open. www.amalyst.com/

- Features and architecture Fuel Cells - Features and architecture Main features High efficiency Low or no emissions Quiet, no moving parts, potentially highly reliable Scalable – applications from mW to MW Anode Cathode Current Collector e- Electrode Fuel Electrolyte Air

- Features and architecture Fuel Cells - Features and architecture Anode Cathode Electrode Interconnect

The Flexi-Planar Fuel Cell Conventional fuel cell stacks have a problem. If one cell fails, the whole stack fails. Anode Cathode Electrode Interconnect Anode Cathode Electrode Interconnect Anode Cathode Electrode Interconnect Anode Cathode Electrode Interconnect Anode Cathode Electrode Interconnect Existing stacks must be made from high-spec cells (expensive).

The Flexi-Planar Fuel Cell A new fuel cell technology (with Imperial College, Carbon Trust) Puts a fuel cell inside a printed circuit board (PCB) Low cost, high capacity manufacture Consumer electronics Micro-CHP Automotive

The Flexi-Planar Fuel Cell 3 patent applications (1 granted) <$36 / kW cost reduction (independently verified) Continuous operation for over 2000 hrs hours with no significant degradation

The Flexi-Planar Fuel Cell

The Flexi-Planar Fuel Cell 15 W modules Modules combined together to form stacks Consumer electronics Micro-CHP Automotive

Process employs existing Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing

The Flexi-Planar Fuel Cell - Summary of benefits Mass-manufacture. Simplified stack - Compression and sealing Low-cost components Patented, low-cost copper passivation layer. High gravimetric power density (3 kW/litre) Control flexibility of modules with integrated electronics Conventional fuel cell

The Flexi-Planar Fuel Cell - Summary Simplified system BoP (humidification & heat transfer) Internal humidification Flexible design for integration into multiple applications Currently looking for investment / joint venture for company formation

Overall Summary The UCL Electrochemical Innovation Lab (EIL) is a new model for university-based open innovation Very well equipped for scientific projects Particular focus on commercialising our research Example projects in the area of fuel cells focusing on cost reduction Amalyst (low cost catalyst) Flexi-Planar Fuel Cell (low cost stack design) Opportunities for investment and joint ventures

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