Q-CTRL UK
Company · London
London arm of quantum control firm Q-CTRL, using Fire Opal software on UK projects in rail scheduling and fuel cell catalysts, and partner in TreQ's testbed.
Completed Consortium
Nitrogen Doped Graphene Catalysts
Q-CTRL and Johnson Matthey used quantum optimisation to study metal-free catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells.
Project data last updated 11 October 2026
About this project
Fuel cells usually need costly platinum group metal catalysts. Nitrogen-doped graphene is a cheaper, metal-free option. Q-CTRL UK framed the placement of nitrogen atoms as an optimisation problem and ran it with its Fire Opal software on IBM quantum computers.
Johnson Matthey Technology Centres and the NQCC were partners. The project was one of the NQCC SparQ proof of concept projects for 2025-26.
Lead organisation
Partners (2)
Johnson Matthey
Company · London
NQCC
Research organisation · Harwell
Funders
-
NQCC
Research organisation · Harwell
In the news
Quantum Zeitgeist articles naming the lead organisation or partners. They may not be about this project.
A recap of the Quantum Software Lab’s Quantum Fringe in Edinburgh, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
The Quantum Software Lab (QSL) at the University of Edinburgh has become a globally recognized hub for creating software solutions, and with its strategic partnership with the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), now has more than 70 researchers. In three years, the QSL is poised to lead a
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Bristol and NQCC launch intensive quantum computing courses, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
The NQCC and University of Bristol offer two intensive, six-week online programs in quantum information and computation, ideal for STEM professionals.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
NQCC-Bristol offers bursaries for quantum start-ups, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
The NQCC-Bristol is supporting the UK quantum start-up ecosystem, offering bursaries for intensive, six-week online courses in quantum information and computation.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Phasecraft Secures $4.5M ARPA-E Contract for Catalyst Discovery, read on Quantum Zeitgeist
Phasecraft received a $4.5M ARPA-E contract to develop quantum algorithms for catalyst discovery, reducing reliance on critical minerals like iridium.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Sources
- NQCC: Nitrogen Doped Graphene Catalysts (nqcc.ac.uk)
- NQCC: Collaborative R&D (SparQ proof of concept projects) (nqcc.ac.uk)
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