TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Sulfonated Polyfluorene Ionomers (SPI)
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
This contract offers a licensing opportunity for sulfonated polyfluorene ionomers (SPI), an advanced electrode material designed to replace traditional perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers used in fuel cells and water electrolyzers. These ionomers provide enhanced proton conductivity, improved water management, and reduced catalyst interference through a structurally tunable polymer platform. The innovation addresses common drawbacks of existing materials, such as poor catalyst compatibility and flooding issues, while also enabling cost-effective and environmentally friendly production. The technology shows promise across multiple markets including clean transportation, stationary power, hydrogen production, membrane electrode assembly manufacturing, and portable power systems. The sulfonated polyfluorene ionomers operate with a unique fluorene backbone that supports high ionic concentration alongside hydrophobic side chains to prevent flooding and maintain catalyst performance. Their solubility in common polar solvents facilitates scalable electrode fabrication. The technology is currently at Technology Readiness Level 4 with a US patent pending, developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). LANL is offering exclusive and non-exclusive licenses and invites interested parties to engage through their licensing program to leverage this promising material for advancing cleaner energy technologies.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USASet-Aside
Documents
(0)AI Contract Breakdown
Uniform Contract FormatNo contract breakdown available.
Cannot generate Contract Breakdown because no documents were found from this contract's source.
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
Sulfonated polyfluorene ionomers represent a next-generation electrode material designed to replace conventional perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers in fuel cells and water electrolyzers. The chemistry behind these ionomers delivers high proton conductivity, improved water management and reduced interference with catalysts, all within a structurally tunable platform. Organizations developing or manufacturing membrane electrode assemblies can leverage the material's versatility, lower projected production costs and reduced environmental footprint to advance cleaner energy technologies.
The Challenge
Electrochemical devices such as fuel cells and water electrolyzers rely on ionomers at the electrode to conduct protons, manage water and interact effectively with both the membrane and the catalyst. Conventional hydrocarbon-based ionomers struggle in these roles because their phenyl groups tend to adsorb onto catalyst surfaces and suppress activity, while the high ionic concentration needed for adequate proton conductivity reduces hydrophobicity and makes electrode flooding more likely. Perfluorosulfonic acid materials like Nafion perform well but carry higher production costs and greater environmental concerns, creating demand for alternatives that can match or exceed PFSA performance without those drawbacks.
Problems Solved
The sulfonated polyfluorene ionomer architecture addresses each of those limitations through deliberate structural design. The fluorene backbone accommodates two ionic groups per repeating unit, enabling high ionic concentration and strong proton conductivity, while short fluorinated side chains restore the hydrophobicity needed to prevent electrode flooding. The rigid, fused-ring structure of fluorene minimizes phenyl adsorption on catalyst surfaces — preserving catalytic activity that other hydrocarbon ionomers tend to diminish. The material also dissolves readily in common polar organic solvents, which simplifies electrode fabrication and supports scalable manufacturing processes.
Advantages
- Delivers high proton conductivity through a tunable polymer structure
- Improves water management and reduces electrode flooding risk
- Minimizes unwanted interactions with electrocatalysts to preserve performance
- Dissolves in common solvents for easier and more scalable electrode fabrication
- Offers a lower-cost, lower-environmental-impact alternative to PFSA materials
- Demonstrated applicability across both fuel cell and water electrolyzer platforms
Market Applications
- Clean Transportation (hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, fleet power systems)
- Stationary Power Generation (backup power, grid support, distributed energy)
- Hydrogen Production (proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers, industrial hydrogen systems)
- Membrane Electrode Assembly Manufacturing (ionomer supply, electrode component production)
- Portable Power Systems (auxiliary power units, remote and off-grid energy devices)
Development Status: TRL 4
US Patent pending
LA-UR-26-23292
LANL Tech Partnerships: Unlock the Innovative Potential
Los Alamos National Laboratory offers a wide range of cutting-edge technologies and capabilities that may provide your company with a competitive edge in the market and unlock the innovative potential that can enhance, refine, and revolutionize your products.
LANL’s licensing program focuses on moving inventions developed by our researchers to commercial innovations. Patented and patent pending inventions and copyrighted software are available to existing and start-up companies through exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. For specific discussions, please contact licensing@lanl.gov.
Note: This is not a call for external services for the development of this technology.
https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/partner-with-us/licensing-technology
m.lanl.gov/tech-search