Ionomr Advances Hydrogen Fuel Cells with PFAS-Free Ion Exchange Membranes at Boston Facility

The Canada-born outfit, spun out of Simon Fraser University back in 2015, has since pulled in over US$44 million from heavy hitters like Shell, Chevron, Samsung and SAIC Motor. Under the watchful eyes of co-founder and CTO Benjamin Britton and CEO Bill Haberlin, Ionomr now partners with more than 200 OEMs and is on track for around US$7 million in revenues this year.

Technological Leap with PFAS-Free Membranes

At the heart of Ionomr’s tech are their hydrocarbon-based ion exchange membranes, marketed as Pemion™ and Pemion+™. These sulfonated polyphenylene films ditch the old-school PFAS chemistries—hello, no more “forever” chemicals—yet still boast top-tier ionic conductivity and rock-solid chemical stability. By weaving in a composite, reinforced structure, they’ve managed to make membranes that are ultrathin but tough enough for transport applications, from heavy-duty fuel cells to next-gen mobility platforms.

Whether you’re talking water electrolysis for clean hydrogen production or high-power-density fuel cells on the road, these membranes really deliver. Early industry tests suggest they match—or even beat—the longevity of legacy PFAS products, and you’ll already find Ionomr’s materials slotted into electrolyzer stacks and hydrogen fuel cells from leading OEMs.

Boston Facility: Specs and Strategy

Nestled in Massachusetts’ innovation corridor, the Boston site was snagged at a steal, complete with ready-made pilot-scale lines for membrane casting and binder formulation. It’s a playground for R&D, where polymer processing whizzes and electrochemical device engineers can tinker, iterate and validate new recipes on the fly. The goal? Nail down the perfect blend for diverse electrolysis environments before scaling up.

“Boston keeps us close to key North American hydrogen developers and regulators,” says Bill Haberlin. “It speeds up our validation cycles and makes sure our membranes tick all the boxes for U.S. standards, well ahead of full-scale production.” With low-volume runs online, Ionomr can slash lead times for local customers and tweak formulations until they’re spot on.

Strategic Partnerships and Funding

Hot on the heels of the Boston launch, Ionomr inked a collaboration with Spain’s Jolt Solutions in June 2025 to co-develop electrodes for electrolyzers. By blending Jolt’s electrode know-how with Ionomr’s PFAS-free membranes, both teams aim to drive down system costs and crank up green hydrogen output.

From day one, strategic investors like Shell, Chevron, Samsung and SAIC Motor have backed this approach, funneling capital that’s helped scale up manufacturing and hit the market running. Those partnerships also smooth the path through the supply chain—securing catalysts, gas diffusion layers and other stack components so Ionomr can chase true economies of scale.

Market and Regulatory Context

As governments clamp down on PFAS—the notorious “forever chemicals”—the hunt is on for cleaner alternatives in the hydrogen world. Regulators in the EU, U.S. and Asia have PFAS targets front and center, which puts traditional fluorochemical membranes under a microscope. Ionomr’s hydrocarbon-based films slot right into this shifting policy landscape.

“Global PFAS bans are a wake-up call for the cleantech sector,” notes a recent IDTechEx report. “Material innovation is key to shrinking environmental liabilities and meeting zero-emission goals.” In other words, regulators aren’t just nudging—they’re steering the industry toward new chemistries.

Strategic Implications and ‘Why It Matters’

For anyone invested in hydrogen production or fuel cell technology, Ionomr’s progress offers a clear roadmap to diversify the supply chain and hedge against material risks. Cutting membrane costs and boosting durability can lower the levelized cost of hydrogen, making green hydrogen more competitive against gray and blue variants.

Plus, bringing membrane production stateside lines up nicely with U.S. incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act, spurring industrial decarbonization and buffering against geopolitical supply shocks. It’s a win-win for the clean energy ecosystem.

Looking Ahead

With pilot production humming in Boston and partnerships like Jolt Solutions in full swing, Ionomr is primed to lock in long-term supply deals by late 2025. While projected CO₂ displacement in the gigaton range still needs independent verification, the trajectory is unmistakable: as global demand for green hydrogen climbs, sustainable materials like Ionomr’s PFAS-free membranes will drive the next wave of hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzer deployments.

I’ll be watching closely to see how they scale up, nail commercial volumes and navigate the regulatory twists ahead—key barometers of real-world impact in the race for cleaner energy.