As 2025 wraps up, Hechu New Materials (a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZH Energy) has earned national high-tech enterprise status in China—officially joining the cohort of top state-recognized high-tech firms.This designation serves as both a state-level endorsement of Hecchu’s strengths in R&D, core innovation, and tech commercialization, and a marker of its elevated technical standing in the new materials and energy storage sectors.

Since its establishment, Hechu New Materials has consistently driven growth through technological innovation. Partnering with Prof. Liu Suqin’s team at Central South University, it has developed cutting-edge technology systems—including non-fluorinated ion exchange membranes and next-generation low-cost iron-sulfur flow batteries/electrolytes—while conducting systematic research to address key industry challenges.To enhance material consistency, cost control, and stability, the company has built a cross-disciplinary R&D team (integrating materials science, electrochemistry, and engineering). It has achieved breakthroughs in multiple proprietary technologies, which are now undergoing industrial validation via projects like:State Grid’s iron-sulfur demonstration project,Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute’s iron-sulfur project,National Innovation Center’s non-fluorinated ion exchange membrane project.

In recent years, Hecchu New Materials has secured multiple core patents. By co-building research platforms and joint projects, it has established an open innovation ecosystem to strengthen independent R&D capabilities.In non-fluorinated ion exchange membranes: It achieved key breakthroughs in PBI membrane technology—outperforming mainstream perfluorinated membranes while costing 30% less. This has been validated by over 150 users (domestic and international) with field test data.In iron-sulfur flow batteries: It enabled stable operation at a high current density of 120 mA/cm², with a system energy efficiency exceeding 73%. The electrolyte cost is 85% lower than that of all-vanadium systems.

Performance Comparison: PBI Flow Battery Membrane vs. Commercial Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membrane

This national high-tech enterprise certification will provide stronger policy support for Hechu New Materials in R&D investment, technical upgrading, talent recruitment, and innovation resource access—further boosting its sustainable innovation in critical materials. For the company, this recognition is both an affirmation of past efforts and a key driver for next-stage growth.

Moving forward, Hecchu New Materials will take this certification as a new starting point, continuing to focus on key technical routes in non-fluorinated ion exchange membranes and iron-sulfur flow batteries. Adhering to the philosophy of "technology leadership, quality first, application orientation," it will advance the engineering and large-scale application of more R&D outcomes.The company will deepen collaborative innovation across the industrial chain, partnering with domestic and international universities, research institutions, and industry peers to contribute more to green energy transition, new energy technology innovation, and the localization of materials.