Production of nanochalcogenides for use in electrocatalysis
AssigneesThe Governing Council of the University of Toronto, Totalenergies Onetech
InventorsJehad ABED, Steven THORPE, Edward SARGENT
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Abstract
The present description relates to metal alloy electrocatalysts, preferably composed of Ni and Co as transition metals and Se as a chalcogen. The electrocatalysts can take the form of nanochalcogenides that can be made using cryogenic milling followed by surfactant-assistant milling. The electrocatalysts can be used in the context of water electrolysis or electroreduction of CO2 gas into carbon based products.
Claims20
A process for producing a nanochalcogenide for use in electrocatalysis, comprising:
- subjecting at least two transition metals and at least one chalcogen to cryogenic milling to produce an alloyed chalcogenide material;
- subjecting the alloyed chalcogenide material to surfactant-assisted milling to produce a slurry comprising a nanochalcogenide;
- and
- separating the nanochalcogenide from the slurry.
The process of 1, further comprising sonicating the slurry prior to the separating.
A process for producing a nanochalcogenide for use in electrocatalysis, comprising:
- subjecting at least two transition metals and at least one chalcogen to a first milling stage to produce an alloyed chalcogenide material having an average particle size above 1 micrometer and a disordered structure including amorphous and nanocrystalline structures;
- subjecting the alloyed chalcogenide material to a second milling stage to produce a slurry comprising nanochalcogenides having a particle size below 100 nm, measured using DLS or SEM;
- and
- separating the nanochalcogenides from the slurry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.