Catalyst materials for fuel cells
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology, a California corporation
InventorsSekharipuram R. Narayanan, Subbarao Surampudi, Gerald Halpert
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Abstract
An improved direct liquid-feed fuel cell having a solid membrane electrolyte for electrochemical reactions of an organic fuel. Improvements in interfacing of the catalyst layer and the membrane and activating catalyst materials are disclosed.
Claims25
A method for fabricating a catalyst layer for a fuel cell, comprising:
- preparing a catalyst material for either the electro-reduction or electro-oxidation reaction in the fuel cell;
- introducing a substance in the catalyst material, wherein the substance is insoluble in the catalyst material;
- and
- subsequently removing the insoluble substance from the catalyst material to increase a surface area of the catalyst material compared to the catalyst material prior to introducing and removing the substance.
A method for fabricating a catalyst material for a fuel cell:
- mixing a catalyst and a polytetrafluoroethylene in a diluted solution to form a mixture liquid;
- performing sonication to the mixture liquid;
- subsequently adding a perfluorovinylether sulfonic acid in a diluted solution to the mixture liquid to form a new mixture liquid solution;
- performing sonication to the new mixture liquid solution;
- and
- placing dry ice into the new mixture liquid to evaporate the liquid portion without agglomeration and growth of particles to form a catalyst material.
A method for fabricating a catalyst material for a fuel cell:
- mixing a catalyst and a polytetrafluoroethylene in a diluted solution to form a mixture liquid;
- performing sonication to the mixture liquid;
- subsequently adding a perfluorovinylether sulfonic acid in a diluted solution to the mixture liquid to form a new mixture liquid solution;
- performing sonication to the new mixture liquid solution;
- and
- adding a gas through the new mixture liquid solution to cause bubbles to promote formation of a foam-type catalyst material.
A method for fabricating a catalyst material for a fuel cell, comprising:
- mixing a catalyst of about 7-10 wt. %, a perfluorovinylether sulfonic acid of about 60-70 wt. %, and a polytetrafluoroethylene of about 15-20 wt. % to form a catalyst material;
- and
- thermally quenching the catalyst material from a high temperature to a low temperature to activating the catalyst material.
A catalyst material for a fuel cell, comprising:
- a catalyst comprising tungsten carbide;
- a perfluorovinylether sulfonic acid;
- and
- a polytetrafluoroethylene.
A catalyst material for a fuel cell, comprising:
- a catalyst comprising zirconium dioxide;
- a perfluorovinylether sulfonic acid;
- and
- a polytetrafluoroethylene.
A catalyst material for a fuel cell, comprising:
- a catalyst comprising zeolites incorporated with platinum and ruthenium;
- a perfluorovinylether sulfonic acid;
- and
- a polytetrafluoroethylene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.