1. Company Profile

Anhui Polyrocks Hydro-friend Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Polyrocks Hydro-friend") was established on June 18, 2024, in Anqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Anhui Province. It is a joint venture between Polyrocks Chemical and Hefei University of Technology, specializing in the R&D, production, and sales of key materials for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE).

Building upon its high-performance anion exchange membrane (AEMemr^®), Polyrocks Hydro-friend has recently achieved a breakthrough in catalyst layer ionomer (AEMemr^®-PAI-1-5E) for AEMWE. The company possesses independent intellectual property rights, covering everything from monomer design and synthesis to polymerization production processes.
 

2. Mastering the Key Properties of the Ionomer

In AEM water electrolysis, the catalyst layer ionomer serves as a critical component of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), playing a pivotal role.

An ionomer is a polymer containing both ionized and electrically neutral units. It acts as a "binder" between the AEM membrane and the catalyst—far more than just an adhesive. During AEM electrolyzer operation, the ionomer:

Many existing ionomers share the same structure as the AEM itself, but optimal ionomer selection requires balancing AEM compatibility and gas permeability. For example:

These opposing demands make material design a true engineering challenge!
 

3. Product Highlights: AEMemr^®-PAI-1-5E

AEMemr^®-PAI-1-5E is a high-performance polyelectrolyte material based on a polyaromatic backbone. It demonstrates exceptional solubility in various low-boiling-point alcoholic solvents, representing China's first catalyst layer ionomer capable of large-scale production. This material combines high ionic conductivity with superior binding properties, enabling facile agglomeration and assembly with various catalysts. As a key material for membrane electrode preparation in water electrolyzers and fuel cells, AEMemr^®-PAI-1-5E exhibits significant advantages across multiple aspects:

Outstanding Ionic Conductivity:

Utilizing advanced material synthesis technology, AEMemr^®-PAI-1-5E achieves high ion exchange capacity (IEC), effectively facilitating rapid hydroxide ion transport between membrane and catalyst (>180 mS/cm @ 80°C).

Excellent Mechanical Stability:

The material possesses robust mechanical properties that withstand operational stresses during water electrolysis, preventing catalyst layer delamination or damage. Its strong interfacial bonding with substrates provides reliable mechanical support for the entire MEA, extending service life while reducing maintenance costs and replacement frequency.

Superior Gas Management Capability:

Through optimized structural design, AEMemr^®-PAI-1-5E exhibits high gas permeability for efficient product gas removal. This prevents gas accumulation in the catalyst layer, avoids active site blockage, and enhances both catalyst utilization and reaction efficiency - particularly critical for stable operation and high-efficiency hydrogen production under high-current-density conditions.

　　
       4. Case Study: Application in Alkaline Membrane Water Electrolysis

The combination of polyelectrolyte solution AEMemr^®-PAI-1-5E and high-strength anion exchange membrane AEMemr^®-PAW-1-60 provides an efficient and stable solution for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE). This system is compatible with non-precious metal catalysts and delivers outstanding electrolysis performance (1.80 V @ 3.0 A·cm⁻² in 1 M KOH, 80°C), producing high-purity H_₂ (>99.98%). Furthermore, under operational conditions of 80°C and 2 A·cm⁻², the system achieves long-term stability over 1,000 hours, with a minimal voltage increase rate of only 76 μV·h⁻¹.

Compared to traditional alkaline water electrolyzers, AEMWE demonstrates significant advantages in adapting to fluctuating power sources, featuring an extremely short dynamic response time. This makes it ideal for integration with renewable energy systems like wind and solar power. As shown in the figure above, the electrolyzer assembled with AEMemr^®-PAI-1-5E and AEMemr^®-PAW-1-60 achieves rapid current response within 1 second, effortlessly handling load variations from 1 A·cm⁻² to 2 A·cm⁻² at 60°C. After 1,000 hours of durability testing, the electrolyzer maintains >99% Faradaic efficiency, with no degradation in the membrane's ion exchange capacity (IEC). These results fully validate the exceptional mechanical robustness and chemical stability of the polyelectrolyte solution and anion exchange membrane.

　　
　　5. Pioneering the Future: Leading Industry Development

As global demand for clean energy continues to grow, water electrolysis hydrogen production technology will embrace broader development prospects. With its exceptional performance and extensive application potential, our catalyst layer ionomer AEMemr^®-PAI-1-5E is poised to become an indispensable core material in the field of AEM water electrolysis for hydrogen production.We remain committed to investing in R&D resources to continuously optimize product performance, dedicating our efforts to advance the development of the water electrolysis hydrogen production industry.

Should you be interested in this catalyst layer ionomer and wish to obtain more detailed information or discuss procurement opportunities, please don't hesitate to contact us. Let's join hands to create a brighter future for hydrogen energy together!