Catalyst electrodes, and methods of making and using the same
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsMark K. Debe, Radoslav Atanasoski, Susan M. Hendricks, George D. Vernstrom
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Abstract
Methods of making catalyst electrodes comprising sputtering at least Pt and Ir onto nanostructured whiskers to provide multiple alternating layers comprising, respectively in any order, at least Pt and Ir. In some exemplary embodiments, catalyst electrodes described, or made as described, herein are anode catalyst, and in other exemplary embodiments cathode catalyst. Catalysts electrodes are useful, for example, in generating H2 and O2 from water.
Claims15
A method of making an anode catalyst electrode comprising:
- sputtering at least Pt and Ir onto nanostructured whiskers to provide multiple alternating layers comprising respectively in any order Pt and Ir;
- and
- radiation annealing at least some of the multiple alternating layers comprising respectively Pt and Ir at least in part in an atmosphere comprising an absolute oxygen partial pressure of at least 2 kPa oxygen to provide the anode catalyst electrode.
A method of making an anode catalyst electrode comprising:
- sputtering at least Pt and Ir onto nanostructured whiskers to provide multiple alternating layers comprising respectively in any order Pt and Ir, wherein at least a portion of the multiple alternating layers are up to 20 Angstroms thick,
- to provide the anode catalyst electrode.
A method of making an anode catalyst electrode comprising:
- sputtering at least Pt, Ir, and Ru onto nanostructured whiskers to provide multiple alternating layers comprising respectively in any order Pt, Ir, and Ru to provide the anode catalyst electrode.
A method of generating hydrogen and oxygen from water, the method comprising:
- providing a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode catalyst comprising nanostructured whiskers having thereon multiple alternating layers comprising respectively in any order Pt and Ir, and a cathode;
- providing water in contact with the catalyst;
- and
- providing an electrical potential with sufficient current across the membrane electrode assembly to convert at least a portion of the water to hydrogen and oxygen on the cathode and anode respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.