Nanowire supported catalysts for fuel cell electrodes
AssigneesGM Global Technology Operations LLC, The University of Western Ontario
InventorsXueliang Sun, Madhu S. Saha, Ruying Li, Mei Cai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Metal oxide nanowires and carbon-coated metal nanowires are effective as supports for particles of an expensive catalyst material, such as platinum metal group catalyst. Such supported catalysts are useful when included in an electrode on, for example, a proton exchange membrane in a hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell. For example, tin oxide nanowires are formed on carbon fibers of carbon paper and platinum nanoparticles are deposited on the tin oxide nanowires. The nanowires provide good surfaces for effective utilization of the platinum material.
Claims9
A method of making a supported catalyst for a fuel cell, the method comprising:
- forming tin oxide (SnO2) nanowires directly on carbon fibers by oxidative thermal evaporation of tin metal powder in an oxygen-containing inert gas atmosphere to form tin oxide nanowires and depositing the tin oxide nanowires from the oxygen-containing inert gas atmosphere on carbon fibers, said tin oxide nanowires comprising a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, said circular cross-sectional shape having a diameter;
- and then
- depositing nanoparticles of a catalytic metal on the tin oxide nanowires formed on the carbon fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.