Dr. Steven Holdcroft did not have a conventional introduction to chemistry by any means. Dr. Holdcroft’s journey all started with a borrowed book on plastics. We sat down with Dr. Holdcroft to discuss his beginnings, breakthroughs, and what young chemists should keep in mind as they look to turn their research into real-world impact.
Chemical Institute of Canada: Thank you so much for agreeing to sit down with us. Can you start by telling us about yourself and your beginnings in chemistry?
Dr. Steven Holdcroft: My introduction to the subject “chemistry” came at the age of 13 on the last day of class before summer holidays. We were given a periodic table and told to learn the first 20 elements. Chemistry was interesting to me, and I borrowed a book from the school library on “plastics”, which I still have. I ought to return it, but the school no longer exists!
After leaving school at the age of 16, I went to work in a chemical factory, attending college one day a week, and then somehow found myself enrolled in a co-op chemistry degree through a series of chance encounters and fortuitous events.
CIC: How did you find your area of chemistry?
S.H.: There’s an adage that “you don’t find careers, they find you”. On picking up a copy of the New Scientist magazine while waiting for a train in London, I read about plastics that could conduct electricity. I was instantly smitten and simply had to make and study these materials. This brought me to Canada to undertake a PhD degree.
After developing interests in the dissimilar subjects of polymer science and electrochemistry, I happened to be visited by a researcher from Ballard Power Systems in Vancouver who introduced me to polymer membrane fuel cells
CIC: A previous CIC News story discusses the commercial potential of your membrane technology. Has there been any advancements since then?
S.H.: Absolutely. In 2016, three former group members and I formed Ionomr Innovations Inc. with the help of Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Technology Licensing Office, with the view to scale and implement our research discoveries in polymer science. An early Sustainable Technology Development Canada clean technology award was received and has since been leveraged by over $50M of additional external investment.
Ionomr Innovations now employs 50+ professionals in Vancouver, New York, and Boston, and partners with leading chemical and film companies to produce these materials at scale. Over 100 companies and laboratories are integrating Ionomr’s materials into their programs, accelerating the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.
CIC: Can you tell us about lonomr’s membranes? How did they overcome the ‘caustic degradation’ and be fluorine-free?
S.H.: Ionomr’s membranes have their roots in fundamental polymer chemistry research supported by NSERC Discovery Grants and were incubated in SFU’s 4D Labs. IP is protected by nine patent families covering 40+ patents. The hydroxide–conduction polymer membrane family was designed to overcome caustic instability by determining the point of attack of a hydroxide ion and then sterically protecting that position using specially designed molecular motifs.
In the case of fluorine-free proton-conducting polymer membranes, the challenge was to research and invent monomers that contained proton-conducing functionality and yet that could be polymerized to produce a macromolecule devoid of aliphatic groups, which are prone to degradation by free radicals. Commercialized under the trade names Aemion® and Pemion®, these ultra-thin polymer membranes have industry-leading performances in water electrolyzers and hydrogen fuel cells.
CIC: Why are these discoveries important in addressing climate change?
S.H.: As we all know, there is urgent need to mitigate CO2 emissions. Hydrogen is an emerging energy storage and vector that holds promise for decarbonization, by offering versatile applications from power generation, transportation, and long-duration storage, and the production of essential industrial products.
Anion-exchange membrane water electrolysis is the only green hydrogen technology that can be competitive with fossil fuel-based hydrogen because the alkaline environment enables the utilization of more cost-effective materials, such as nickel, as water-splitting catalysts. Up until now, the challenge has been the lack of a caustically robust, scalable anion exchange membrane. Ionomr Innovations now produces materials for a range of applications including fuel cells, hydrogen production, advanced energy storage, and on-site chemical recovery.
CIC: As a past president of the Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC), how are you still involved in the CSC?
S.H.: I am an active member of the CSC but no longer directly involved in its administration, except for ad hoc committees or occasionally being asked for advice in relation to a particular issue. Serving as CSC President was a great privilege and an opportunity for personal and professional growth, and a means to give back to an organization that has been a bedrock throughout my professional life.
Moving forward, it is important for me to take experiences learned and apply them in new ventures; at the same time, it seems prudent to leave the door open for others, particularly junior members, to join the CSC organization to expand their network and be exposed to people of diverse interests and viewpoints.
CIC: What would your advice be for young chemists who are looking to commercialize their work?
S.H.: The simplest answer is that they speak to their Technology Liaison Office or equivalent, but what I would really like to say is this: For a young chemist just embarking on research, my advice would be to focus on doing excellent science and becoming a rigorous, world-class scientist. In your spare time, read and become knowledgeable in technology and how science policy steers technology. Learn or predict what overarching technological challenges will be in vogue in five years’ time, because these will be the topical areas receiving funding.
CIC: Are you working on any new research projects? If so, can you tell us about them?
S.H.: There are several new projects ongoing in my laboratory, all are exciting, at least to me! One project is a novel twist on caustically stable anion exchange polymers. Working with my long-time colleague, Dr. Andrew Bennet, we have synthesized what I believe to be the most stable organic cation ever to exist. Integrating this molecule into a polymer to fabricate membranes is a significant challenge, but if successful, will open new avenues for inexpensive water electrolysis and fuel cell technology.
At the other end of the electrochemical energy conversion scale, working closely with SFU’s Hydrogen Hub and teams of contractors, we are installing a 1-megawatt (MW) anion exchange water electrolyzer, largely based on membranes invented in our laboratory. To put this into perspective, 1 megawatt of electrolyzer requires up to 100 sq M of membrane and can produce up to 400 kg of hydrogen a day. This will be a first in Canada, if not the world, and involves research and development necessary to ultimately achieve gigawatt (GW) scale electrolysis, which is required if green hydrogen is to make a dent in global CO2 emissions.
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