Reinventing Membrane Materials

Rethinking the materials behind clean energy.

COFion develops advanced flourine free covalent organic framework (COF) materials for next generation proton exchange membrane technologies.

Explore our approach ↓Partner with COFion ↗

Research originated at TU Berlin · Materials innovation for hydrogen technologies

Tunable chemistryProton pathwaysMaterial stability

PFAS freeMaterial development direction

TRL 3Current stage in validation

2027Target: TRL 5 and scale up partner

The challenge

Membranes matter. Their materials matter even more.

Proton exchange membranes are critical components in fuel cells and water electrolysers. Their materials must support proton transport while withstanding demanding operating conditions.

↗

Performance through changing conditions

Humidity and temperature changes can place mechanical stress on membrane materials and affect long term durability.

◎

Environmental concerns

Many established PEM technologies use PFAS based materials, bringing attention to persistence, lifecycle impact, and regulation.

⌁

New material options

Hydrogen technologies need innovation that can balance conductivity, stability, manufacturability, and practical integration.

Our material platform

COFs: molecular building blocks, designed with purpose.

Covalent organic frameworks are ordered, porous materials whose building blocks can be selected and tuned. COFion is exploring how this design flexibility can help create functional materials for proton-conducting systems.

✓

Designable structureBuild material functionality from molecular components and their arrangement.

✓

Functional pathwaysInvestigate structures that can support proton transport.

✓

Material-first developmentCOFion is developing the COF material as a functional component—not claiming to manufacture a finished membrane today.

Development pathway

From laboratory validation to relevant environment testing.

Our development focuses on validating the material, then progressing toward integration and scale up with the right partners.

01 / CURRENT

TRL 3 · Validation

Core material concept demonstrated in the laboratory and progressing through the Innovate! Call validation programme.

02 / NEXT

Build and test

Move toward a complete membrane demonstrator with collaborators and evaluate performance in relevant conditions.

03 / TARGET 2027

TRL 5 · Scale-up pathway

Target relevant environment testing and establish a scale up partnership for the next stage of development.

About COFion

Translating materials research into clean energy opportunities.

COFion is a research originated deep-tech venture developing advanced materials for proton exchange membrane technologies. Our work connects materials science with practical hydrogen applications.

⌂