Innovating for and with our customers and patients
Published on April 13, 2026
4 minutes
From developing new materials for semiconductors to improving quality of life for home patients, Air Liquide’s innovation is built in close alignment with users’ realworld needs. This collaborative approach transforms pain points into opportunities and brings forward sustainable, high-performance solutions tailored to operational challenges.
Co-constructing innovation with semiconductor players
For more than 10 years, Air Liquide has been developing molybdenum-based precursors, a revolutionary molecule that is a promising replacement for traditional chip manufacturing material. In the semiconductor industry, the adoption of a new material follows a rigorous process: R&D, feasibility testing with customers and partners, manufacturing of small quantities of precursors, then increasing production to high-volume. This collaborative process, which spans several years, enables the transition to a new material at the optimal time for customers.
The challenge of meeting constantly advancing industry roadmaps for making chips smaller and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in metallization is what motivates me every day. As we're ramping up production capacity with new plants in South Korea and Japan to meet growing customer demand, we're already researching the next material to support our customers in developing the chips of the future.
Konstantina Christina Topka, Researcher at Air Liquide Innovation Campus Tokyo, Japan
Developing higher-performance batteries
In 2025, Air Liquide accelerated its innovation activities in the Electric Vehicle (EV) battery sector. This acceleration was particularly evident in the production of cathode active materials, helping customers improve the performance and cycle stability of current and next-generation batteries. The Group has developed proprietary processes that enable the most advanced battery technologies, including solid-state batteries1. Advanced battery recycling through innovative hydrometallurgical processes also represents a promising strategic focus.
Leveraging superconductivity to transmit electricity without loss
Superconducting cables can carry extremely large amounts of electricity with no electrical resistance and almost no energy loss. There is one condition: they must be maintained at a temperature of approximately −200°C. Air Liquide’s Turbo-Brayton technology enables this by cooling the cables with liquid nitrogen. It is at the heart of two large-scale projects: VEIR Inc.’s pilot plant in the USA, which designs superconducting cables for the data center industry, and the SupraMarine offshore wind connection project², managed by a consortium of French industrial and university partners.
Supporting home patients with a cough assist device
The cough assist solution developed by Air Liquide Medical Systems is intended for patients who are unable to clear bronchial secretions. The technology is protected by three patents covering not only the device’s technical components but also a user guidance interface.
The device’s “coaching mode” feature uses an illustration of a small animal, a chameleon whose chest movements are synchronized with the device’s breathing cycles. The objective is to support patients—particularly children—in coordinating their breathing with the therapy, thereby improving treatment effectiveness and adherence. In 2025, a new version dedicated to maintaining respiratory function was brought to market.
Guided by human intelligence and powered by high-quality data, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an innovation driver for Air Liquide, and a valuable resource that enhances our teams’ operational efficiency. In materials science, for example, Air Liquide is exploring the use of generative AI to process massive volumes of data and identify correlations that are invisible to the human eye. This predictive approach—anticipating material properties before physical testing—significantly accelerates innovation cycles. In Healthcare, AI is also used to predict and reduce the risk of treatment discontinuation linked to the use of a medical device by patients living with sleep apnea. Activated from the first week of therapy, AI identifies patients who are likely to discontinue treatment after one month, enabling the deployment of reinforced human support. The objective is to increase device usage time, a determining factor in therapeutic effectiveness. By helping reduce comorbidities associated with sleep apnea, AI supports the development of predictive and preventive medicine, creating value for patients, healthcare professionals and healthcare systems.
2. This project received funding from the French State as part of the France 2030 investment plan, operated by Ademe.