Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

The current global momentum on hydrogen development presents a significant opportunity for Canada to become a leader in hydrogen production and technologies. As the lowest carbon fuel, hydrogen is essential to de-carbonizing the top third of Canada’s most energy intensive and hard-to-abate emissions end-use applications, and there is much work to do to roll out hydrogen at scale domestically. For example, several issues concerning the price and storage of hydrogen need to be addressed in order to successfully achieve what is known as The Hydrogen Economy. In the context of this research project proposal in collaboration with the Centre de Métallurgie du Québec (CMQ), Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) plan to work on the development of a TiFe-based alloy for hydrogen storage that can be produced via the RTIT capabilities at the metallurgical complex in Sorel-Tracy. RTIT is an excellent candidate to become a producer of TiFe-based alloys geared towards hydrogen technologies. They already have the infrastructure for mining the primary materials along with the plants to convert the Fe-ore and soon the Ti-oxide into alloys. Therefore, it is only natural that they work on the development of TiFe-based metal hydride (MH) for hydrogen storage. MHs represent a novel technology that will have an environmental benefit in the long-term. The research and knowledge that will be gained during the project will open the door to the hydrogen industry to RTIT. Additionally, the possibility of achieving a new product that can be commercialized is most definitely of interest to the company. Several patents for hydrogen solid-state storage tanks can be found in the United States Patent and Trademark Office Pre-Granted publication database (for example: US20220299166 – Hyundai Motor Company), these patents all mention TiFe as a possible MH for their storage systems. This information reflects a market need for TiFe that RTIT could furnish. At the CMQ, the research team in powder metallurgy and alloy development will be able to join forces, with the goal of developing a hydrogen focus on the center and later offer consultations for any manufacturer that would wish to start a production line or study of metal hydride materials.