# US 6,297,185 B1 · Catalyst

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- Number: US 6,297,185 B1
- Document ID: US6297185B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/253,965
- Filed: 1999-02-22
- Granted: 2001-10-02
- Earliest claimed: 1998-02-23
- Assignees: T/J Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Levi T. Thompson; Michael Wixom; David Tarnowski; Cong Pu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6297185B1

## CPC

- H01M 4/9075: {Catalytic material supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers (H01M4/8807, H01M4/881, H01M4/8814, H01M4/925 take precedence)}
- B01J 23/38: of noble metals
- B01J 35/392: {Metal surface area}
- H01M 4/90: Selection of catalytic material
- H01M 4/92: Metals of platinum group (H01M4/94 {, H01M4/9058} take precedence)
- H01M 4/925: {supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers}
- H01M 4/921: {Alloys or mixtures with metallic elements}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A catalyst comprises an electrically conductive ceramic substrate having at least one noble metal supported thereupon. The substrate may be a transition metal based ceramic such as a carbide, nitride, boride, or silicide of a transition metal, and the noble metal may comprise a mixture of noble metals. The substrate may comprise a high surface area ceramic. Also disclosed are fuel cells incorporating the catalysts.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A catalyst comprising:
a support body comprised of a Group V-VI transition metal based, electrically conductive ceramic, said electrically conductive ceramic comprising: a first compound of at least one Group V-VI transition metal, said first compound being selected from the group consisting of carbides, nitrides, borides, silicides, and combinations thereof; and a second compound of at least one Group V-VI transition metal, said second compound being present in an amount greater than zero and up to 15% by weight of the electrically conductive ceramic, said second compound being selected from the group consisting of oxides, oxycarbides, oxyborides, oxysilicides, oxynitrides and combinations thereof; and
at least one noble metal supported upon said support body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A catalyst as in claim 1, wherein said second component is disposed upon at least a portion of the surface of said first compound.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A catalyst as in claim 1, wherein said transition metal based, electrically conductive ceramic has a surface area of at least 10 m2/g.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A catalyst as in claim 1, wherein said transition metal based, electrically conductive ceramic has a surface area of at least 40 m2/g.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A catalyst as in claim 1, wherein said noble metal is selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Ru, Ag, Rh, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A catalyst as in claim 1, wherein said noble metal comprises a mixture of platinum and ruthenium.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A catalyst as in claim 1, wherein said noble metal comprises a mixture of platinum and molybdenum.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A catalyst as in claim 1, wherein the electrical resistivity of said transition metal based, electrically conductive ceramic is in the range of 10−6 to 103 ohm-cm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A catalyst as in claim 1, wherein the electrical resistivity of said transition metal based, electrically conductive ceramic is in the range of 10−6 to 1 ohm-cm.

### Claim 10

A fuel cell wherein at least one electrode thereof includes an electrocatalyst, said electrocatalyst comprising:
a support body comprised of an electrically conductive Group V-VI transition metal based ceramic, said electrically conductive ceramic comprising: a first compound of at least one Group V-VI transition metal, said first component being selected from the group consisting of carbides, nitrides, borides, silicides, and combinations thereof; and a second compound of at least one Group V-VI transition metal, said second compound being present in an amount greater than zero and up to 15% by weight of the electrically conductive ceramic, said second compound being selected from the group consisting of oxides, oxycarbides, oxyborides, oxysilicides, oxynitrides and combinations thereof; and
at least one noble metal supported upon said support body.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A fuel cell, as in claim 10, wherein said electrically conductive ceramic has a surface area of at least 10 m2/g.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

A fuel cell as in claim 10, wherein the electrical resistivity of said ceramic is in the range of 10−6 to 103 ohm-cm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

A fuel cell as in claim 10, wherein the electrical resistivity of said ceramic is in the range of 10−6 to 1 ohm-cm.

### Claim 14

A catalyst comprising:
a support body comprised of a transition metal based electrically conductive ceramic, said electrically conductive ceramic comprising: a first compound of at least one Group V-VI transition metal, said first compound being selected from the group consisting of carbides, nitrides, borides, silicides, and combinations thereof; and a second compound of at least one Group V-VI transition metal, said second compound being present in an amount greater than zero and up to 15% by weight of the electrically conductive ceramic, said second compound being selected from the group consisting of oxides, oxycarbides, oxyborides, oxysilicides, oxynitrides and combinations thereof; and
platinum and molybdenum supported upon said support body.