UK industrial manufacturer of PEM fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies and catalysts, from lab development to volume production.
Johnson Matthey Hydrogen Technologies is the fuel cell components division of Johnson Matthey, one of the UK's largest specialty chemicals companies. They design and manufacture membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and catalyst layers for PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells — the core components that determine fuel cell performance, cost, and durability. Their work spans the full chain from catalyst development (including non-precious metal alternatives) to high-speed mass manufacturing processes, serving both automotive and stationary power applications.
Central focus in VOLUMETRIQ (volume manufacturing), MAMA-MEA (high-speed deposition), GAIA (next-gen automotive MEAs), CAMELOT (charge/mass/heat transfer), and IMMORTAL (ultra-durable components).
CRESCENDO focused on non-PGM catalyst replacement, while INSPIRE and VOLUMETRIQ addressed catalyst integration and stack performance.
IMMORTAL targets ultra-durable components for heavy-duty trucks; CAMELOT investigates degradation mechanisms through modelling and in-situ testing.
GRASSHOPPER developed a modular hydrogen PEM power plant for grid support, demand-side management, and power-to-power applications.
VOLUMETRIQ tackled volume manufacturing with in-line quality assurance; MAMA-MEA developed high-speed deposition processes for mass production.
In the early period (2015–2018), JM focused on fundamental catalyst and MEA challenges: reducing reliance on platinum-group metals (CRESCENDO), improving stack manufacturing scale (VOLUMETRIQ), and integrating new stack components (INSPIRE). From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward application-specific durability and real-world deployment — automotive MEAs (GAIA), heavy-duty truck components (IMMORTAL), and understanding degradation mechanisms through advanced modelling and testing (CAMELOT). This evolution reflects a move from "can we make it cheaper?" to "can we make it last long enough for commercial vehicles?"
JM is increasingly focused on heavy-duty transport durability and lifetime prediction, positioning themselves as the go-to MEA supplier for the emerging hydrogen truck market.
JM consistently participates as a specialist partner rather than leading consortia — zero coordinator roles across all 8 projects, with one third-party contribution. They work in moderately sized European consortia (39 unique partners across 13 countries), suggesting they are a sought-after industrial partner that research-led consortia recruit for their manufacturing capability and MEA expertise. Their consistent participation across multiple FCH JU calls indicates strong ties to the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking ecosystem.
JM has collaborated with 39 distinct partners across 13 European countries, indicating a well-connected position in the EU hydrogen and fuel cell research community. Their network is heavily concentrated in the FCH JU (Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking) ecosystem.
JM brings something rare to any consortium: they are one of very few European companies that can both develop advanced MEA and catalyst technologies at lab scale AND manufacture them at industrial volume. Their progression from VOLUMETRIQ (manufacturing scale-up) through MAMA-MEA (high-speed deposition) to IMMORTAL (heavy-duty durability) shows a company systematically closing the gap between research prototypes and commercial fuel cell products. For any project needing an industrial MEA partner with proven manufacturing capability, JM is a top-tier choice in Europe.
