Ir-Ta coated titanium felt is manufactured using a three-dimensional porous structure formed by vacuum sintering high-purity titanium fibers. The porosity of the substrate is adjustable between 50% and 70%, with a minimum thickness of 0.25 mm, balancing mechanical strength and fluid permeability. An IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ mixed metal oxide coating is deposited on the surface of the titanium fiber felt via a thermal decomposition method. The IrO₂ component serves as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), reducing the anodic overpotential. The Ta₂O₅ component acts as an inert stabilizer, contributing to extended service life under acidic, high-potential conditions. A stable oxide interface forms between the coating and the titanium substrate, which suppresses the generation of a high-resistance TiO₂ passivation layer and thereby maintains low contact resistance during long-term operation. The product is typically operated at temperatures ranging from 60 °C to 80 °C. Under representative conditions, the Ir-Ta coated titanium felt achieves a reduction in interfacial contact resistance of approximately 60–70 mΩ·cm².

This product is primarily employed as the anodic porous transport layer (PTL) in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, fulfilling the combined functions of electron conduction, reactant water supply, and oxygen removal. The three-dimensional porous architecture and high porosity help mitigate concentration polarization caused by bubble attachment, supporting stable operation within a current density range of 0–2 A/cm². The high electrochemical stability of the coating enables the titanium felt to resist passivation failure induced by titanium oxidation in the anodic environment, making it suitable for engineering implementations of low-precious-metal-loading anode components in industrial-scale PEM hydrogen production systems.

Product Specifications

Material: Gr1 Titanium

Size: 100*100*0.6mm

Porosity: 70%

Coating Type: Ir-Ta (Iridium-Tantalum mixed metal oxide)

Technique: Sintering

Product Features

Uniform fiber sintered structure with compressible resilience
The three-dimensional network formed by vacuum-sintered titanium fibers offers consistent pore size distribution and moderate elastic deformability, enabling uniform contact with the membrane electrode assembly under PEM electrolyzer stack assembly pressure, thereby preventing localized stress concentration or poor contact.

Resistance to potential transients during start-stop cycles
The IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ coating composition remains structurally stable under high-potential transients that occur during frequent electrolyzer start-stop operations, resisting coating delamination or rapid substrate passivation, making it suitable for intermittent hydrogen production driven by renewable energy sources.

Low flow resistance and efficient gas-liquid separation
The open three-dimensional porous channels result in low pressure drop as both water and gas phases pass through the porous transport layer (PTL), allowing oxygen bubbles to detach quickly from the electrode surface and enter the flow field, thereby reducing fluid hold-up and localized dry-out risks on the anode side.

High coating-substrate adhesion strength and thermal shock resistance
The gradient oxide interface formed between the coating and titanium fibers via thermal decomposition exhibits resistance to crack initiation or delamination under electrolyzer temperature fluctuations (ambient to 80 °C) and localized hot spots, supporting long-term operational reliability.

Compatibility with low-iridium-loading anode catalyst layers
The high specific surface area of the coated titanium felt reduces the iridium loading requirement in the anode catalyst layer while maintaining low ohmic losses and overpotential, helping electrolysis stacks strike a balance between precious metal cost control and performance.

Temperature-invariant properties across the operational range
Within the typical operating range of 60 °C to 80 °C, the coating maintains stable electrocatalytic activity and interfacial resistance. The thermal expansion coefficient of the titanium felt aligns well with that of the membrane electrode assembly, avoiding changes in contact pressure or localized performance degradation due to temperature variations.

Products Applications

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis stacks
This product serves as the anodic porous transport layer integrated directly into PEM electrolyzers, operating continuously under acidic conditions and oxygen evolution potentials. It distributes current uniformly from the bipolar plate to the catalyst layer while facilitating timely removal of generated oxygen from the anode side.

Dynamic hydrogen production systems powered by renewable energy
Designed for hydrogen generation scenarios with fluctuating input power, such as wind and solar energy, the coated titanium felt maintains structural integrity under variable current densities and frequent start-stop cycles. It supports electrolyzer stacks in following the intermittent output of renewable sources without requiring repeated replacement or maintenance.

PEM electrolyzers operating under high differential pressure
In electrolyzer designs where a significant pressure differential exists between the anode and cathode sides, the mechanical strength and compression resistance of the titanium felt enable it to withstand assembly pressure and transmembrane pressure differences, thereby preserving stable gas-liquid transport pathways.

Electrochemical hydrogen compression and purification units
Beyond hydrogen production electrolyzers, this coated titanium felt is also suitable for auxiliary devices such as electrochemical hydrogen pumps where oxygen or hydrogen evolution occurs. Its corrosion resistance and porous structure contribute to stable electrode contact during hydrogen purification or pressurization processes.

Single-cell testing in laboratory and prototype electrolyzers
As a standardized anodic porous transport layer material, this product is compatible with PEM single-cell test fixtures, enabling performance evaluation of novel membrane electrode assemblies, catalysts, or ionomer formulations under controlled fluid flow conditions.

Electrolysis systems coupled with oxygen recovery
In applications requiring collection of high-purity oxygen byproduct from the anode side, the low flow resistance and uniform pore structure of the coated titanium felt help reduce water vapor entrainment in the oxygen stream, simplifying downstream gas-liquid separation and drying processes.