# US 12,002,967 B1 · Cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles as catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,002,967 B1 - Document ID: US12002967B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/391,192 - Filed: 2023-12-20 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2023-03-22 - Assignees: King Faisal University - Applicants: King Faisal University - Inventors: Hany Mohamed Abd El-Lateef Ahmed; Mai Mustafa Khalaf Ali; Ibrahim Abdelhamid Mohamed Elsayed Elshaer; Hadyl Hany Mohamed Abd El-Lateef - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12002967B1 ## CPC - H01M 4/9016: {Oxides, hydroxides or oxygenated metallic salts} - H01M 8/1011: Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC] - H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes} - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY ## Abstract Cobalt and copper-doped nickel Cu/Co—Ni-ferrite nanoparticles having a general formula CuxCoxNi(1-x)Fe2O4 can be a catalyst for electrooxidation of methanol in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). The catalyst can be an efficient anode for DMFC in alkaline electrolytes. The Cu/Co—Ni-ferrite nanoparticles can have a sponge-like structure with irregular pores. A diameter of the Cu/Co—Ni-ferrite nanoparticles can range from about 8 nm to about 30 nm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles prepared according to a method comprising: preparing a gel including iron nitrate, cobalt nitrate, nickel nitrate, copper nitrate, and a capping agent; drying the gel to provide a dried gel; burning the dried gel to provide a brittle mass; reducing the brittle mass to a powder; and calcining the powder to provide cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles; wherein the cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles have the general formula CuxCoxNi(1-x)Fe2O4; wherein x equals about 0.03 to about 0.05; and wherein the cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles are sponge-like with irregularly shaped pores. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 1, wherein x equals 0.05. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 1, wherein the capping agent is citric acid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 1, wherein drying the gel comprises heating the gel to a temperature ranging from about 90° C. to about 110° C. for a period of time ranging from about 8 hours to about 12 hours. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 1, wherein burning the dried gel can include heating the dried gel at a temperature ranging from about 165° C. to about 175° C. for a period of time ranging from about 30 minutes to about 2 hours. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 1, wherein the brittle mass is reduced to a powder by grinding. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 1, wherein the powder is calcined for about two hours to about five hours at a temperature ranging from about 400° C. to about 500° C. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 1, wherein the powder is calcined for about three hours at about 420° C. ### Claim 9 Cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles prepared according to a method comprising: preparing a gel including iron nitrate, cobalt nitrate, nickel nitrate, copper nitrate, and citric acid; drying the gel to provide a dried gel; burning the dried gel to provide a brittle mass; reducing the brittle mass to a powder; and calcining the powder to provide cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles; and wherein the gel is prepared by: dissolving iron nitrate in water to provide an iron nitrate solution; dissolving cobalt nitrate in water to provide a cobalt nitrate solution; dissolving nickel nitrate in water to provide a nickel nitrate solution; combining the iron nitrate solution, the cobalt nitrate solution, and the nickel nitrate solution to provide a first mixture; adding copper nitrate to the first mixture to provide a second mixture; adding a capping agent to the second mixture to provide a third mixture; adjusting a pH of the third mixture to provide an alkaline solution; heating the alkaline solution to provide a heated solution; and sealing the heated solution to provide a gel; wherein the cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles have the general formula CuxCoxNi(1-x)Fe2O4; wherein x equals about 0.03 to about 0.05; and wherein the cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles are sponge-like with irregularly shaped pores. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 9, wherein x equals 0.05. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 9, wherein the capping agent is citric acid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 9, wherein drying the gel comprises heating the gel to a temperature ranging from about 90° C. to about 110° C. for a period of time ranging from about 8 hours to about 12 hours. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 9, wherein burning the dried gel can include heating the dried gel at a temperature ranging from about 165° C. to about 175° C. for a period of time ranging from about 30 minutes to about 2 hours. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 9, wherein the brittle mass is reduced to a powder by grinding. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 9, wherein the powder is calcined for about two hours to about five hours at a temperature ranging from about 400° C. to about 500° C. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The cobalt and copper-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles of claim 9, wherein the powder is calcined for about three hours at about 420° C.