Foam iron nickel alloy

Hydrogen serves as both a critical chemical industry feedstock and a carbon-neutral fuel for industrial and transportation applications. Green hydrogen production-defined as hydrogen generation through water electrolysis powered by renewable energy-represents a clean energy pathway to decarbonize energy systems. However, compared to conventional steam methane reforming (SMR), green hydrogen remains costly. While renewable electricity prices have declined, high capital expenditures (CAPEX) for electrolyzers persist. Electrode materials alone account for 22.5%-30% of total electrolyzer costs and significantly impact hydrogen production efficiency.

Our company has developed a breakthrough nickel-iron foam alloy material to address these challenges. "This innovative material technology aims to enable cost-competitive commercialization of green hydrogen, combining economic viability with high efficiency," stated the CTO of Yiyang Feimeite. The novel nickel-iron foam exhibits superior performance at reduced costs (iron being far cheaper than nickel), potentially lowering electrolytic hydrogen production expenses by 25-40%. This advancement holds immense potential for large-scale industrialization.

Current Technology: Alkaline Water Electrolysis (AEL)

AEL, the most widely deployed electrolysis method, operates by applying direct current to a concentrated potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution. Key reactions:

Cathode: 2H2O+2e−→H2+2OH−2H2​O+2e−→H2​+2OH−

Anode: 4OH−→O2+2H2O+4e−4OH−→O2​+2H2​O+4e−

A porous nickel-iron foam alloy separator prevents explosive H2/O2H2​/O2​ recombination while enabling gas diffusion. However, AEL systems face pressure limitations due to this porous structure, necessitating energy-intensive hydrogen compression (15-20% additional energy cost) for storage/transport.

Collaborative Validation & Market Traction

The technology has been validated by research teams at Tsinghua University and Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Yiyang Feimeite New Material Co., Ltd. is China's sole mass producer of nickel-iron foam, with trial orders from:

State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC)

Qinghe Energy (Tsinghua R&D consortium)

Qingdao Green Energy Research Institute

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (South Korea)

HRBR (Spain)

While R&D milestones have been achieved, efforts continue to optimize processes for user-specific requirements. Feimeite's strategy focuses on collaborative R&D aligned with market demands to scale renewable hydrogen production.

Invitation for Partnership
We adhere to a customer-centric approach, prioritizing win-win collaborations. Interested parties are invited to explore joint opportunities in advancing green hydrogen technologies.