A new spin-off of the University of Valencia will manufacture catalysts for the production of green hydrogen at low cost

11/05/2022

The University of Valencia has recognised the chemical company 2DMatch as a spin-off, promoted by researchers from the Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol). Funded by the University itself and by private capital, the company will develop and market catalysts for the production of green hydrogen at low cost, from abundant and easily available materials, in line with the strategic objectives of the European Union.

The rector of the University of Valencia, Maria Vicenta Mestre, and the partners of 2DMatch have signed this Wednesday, May 11, the patent license contract and the spin-off support and recognition agreement of the new chemical company, which will have its headquarters in the Science Park of the academic institution.

2DMatch was born as a company dedicated to the development and optimisation of two-dimensional materials for applications in the field of energy and, in particular, to obtain green hydrogen from renewable energies, a clean and sustainable alternative based on electrocatalytic techniques, in line with the main objectives of the European Green Deal.

Thus, the new spin-off will bring to the market materials for the electrocatalysis of water and the obtaining of renewable hydrogen. Their particularity lies in the fact that they are materials based on abundant and non-geostrategic metals, such as nickel or iron, whose high availability significantly reduces production costs. These, in addition, will be manufactured through an innovative chemical process that allows mass production also at low cost.

2DMatch will also offer customised electrode manufacturing services for electrolysers and batteries, synthesis of two-dimensional materials with transition metals, and consulting, among others.

“The University is very pleased to participate in business projects such as 2DMatch, which is committed to clean and renewable energy, and to manufacturing processes that are friendly to the environment and sustainability”, said the rector Maria Vicenta during the act. Master. “It could not be less coming from an excellence research centre such as the ICMol, which right now has several ERCs underway for the chemical design of advanced materials and, with this, there are already two spin-offs that it generates in this field”, she said.

The company’s scientific team is made up of Gonzalo Abellán, distinguished researcher of the Gen-T plan of the GVA and main promoter of 2DMatch; Eugenio Coronado, professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the UV and director of the ICMol; Toribio Fernández, founder of CIDETEC –a private organisation for the collection, generation and transfer of electrochemical technologies–, and ICMol researchers Jorge Romero and Álvaro Seijas. The financial expert José Rubio and the administrator María Pilar Pérez are also part of the company.

The University of Valencia currently has 18 recognised spin-offs related to the engineering and technology, life sciences, chemical industry and social sciences and humanities sectors, in line with the diversity of a generalist university.