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US 7,351,444 B2Granted
Low platinum fuel cell catalysts and method for preparing the same
AssigneeIntematix Corporation
InventorsNing Wang, Yi Dong, Yi-Qun Li
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Abstract
This invention provides novel fuel cell catalysts comprising new series of catalytically active thin-film metal alloys with low platinum concentration supported on nanostructured materials (nanoparticles). In certain embodiments, an integrated gas-diffusion/electrode/catalyst layer can be prepared by processing catalyst thin films and nanoparticales into gas-diffusion media such as Toray or SGL carbon fiber papers. The catalysts can be placed in contact with an electrolyte membrane for PEM fuel cell applications.
Claims19
A method of preparing a fuel cell element, said method comprising:
- providing a plurality of fibers and/or a porous electrode material;
- depositing a nanoparticle catalyst on said plurality of fibers and/or porous electrode material;
- forming nanoparticles on said plurality of fibers and/or porous electrode material using said nanoparticles catalyst;
- forming a catalytically active layer comprising a substantially continuous thin film on said nanoparticles thereby forming a fuel cell element comprising a plurality of fibers bearing nanoparticles partially or fully coated with a catalytically active thin film;
- wherein said thin film comprises an alloy having the formula:
- PtxVyCozNiw
- wherein:
- x is greater than 0.06 and less than 1;
- y, z, and w are independently greater than zero and less than 1;
- and
- x+y+z+w=1.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.