# US 8,999,874 B2 · Carbon catalyst and process for production thereof, and electrode and battery each equipped with same

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- Number: US 8,999,874 B2
- Document ID: US8999874B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/881,456
- Filed: 2011-11-01
- Published: 2013-08-22
- Granted: 2015-04-07
- Earliest claimed: 2010-11-08
- Assignees: National University Corporation Gunma University; Nisshinbo Holdings Inc.
- Applicants: Takeaki Kishimoto; Mayumi Mizushiri; Jun-ichi Ozaki; Yusuke Sudo; Naokatsu Kannari
- Inventors: Takeaki Kishimoto; Mayumi Mizushiri; Jun-ichi Ozaki; Yusuke Sudo; Naokatsu Kannari
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8999874B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/9041: {Metals or alloys (H01M4/92 takes precedence)}
- H01M 4/96: Carbon-based electrodes
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Provided is a carbon catalyst having an improved catalytic activity, a production method therefor, and an electrode and a battery which use the carbon catalyst. The carbon catalyst is obtained by carbonizing a raw material including an organic substance containing a nitrogen atom and metals, and includes iron and/or cobalt, and copper as the metals. Further, the carbon catalyst has a crystallinity of 41.0% or less, which is determined by X-ray diffractometry, a nitrogen atom-to-carbon atom ratio of 0.7 or more, which is determined by X-ray photoelectronic spectrometry, and an oxygen reduction-starting potential of 0.774 V (vs. NHE) or more.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A carbon catalyst having a shell-like structure and a crystallinity of from 5.0% to 41.0% as determined by X-ray diffractometry, wherein the carbon catalyst is obtained by carbonizing a raw material, the raw material including:
an organic substance containing a nitrogen atom; and
metals, the metals comprising copper and at least one of iron and cobalt,
wherein a ratio of a content of copper to a total content of copper, iron, and cobalt in the raw material is 10 to 95% by mass.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The carbon catalyst according to claim 1, wherein iron is present in the raw material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An electrode, comprising the carbon catalyst according to claim 1.

### Claim 4

A carbon catalyst, having;
a crystallinity of from 5.0% to 41.0% as determined by X-ray diffractometry,
a nitrogen atom-to-carbon atom ratio of 0.7 or more as determined by X-ray photoelectronic spectrometry, and
an oxygen reduction-starting potential of 0.774 V (vs. NHE) or more.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A battery, comprising the electrode according to claim 3.

### Claim 6

A method of producing a carbon catalyst having a shell-like structure and a crystallinity of from 5.0% to 41.0% as determined by X-ray diffractometry, the method comprising:
carbonizing a raw material including:
an organic substance containing a nitrogen atom, and
metals, the metals comprising copper and at least one of iron and cobalt,
wherein a ratio of a content of copper to a total content of copper, iron, and cobalt in the raw material is 10 to 95% by mass.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of producing a carbon catalyst according to claim 6, wherein iron is present in the raw material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

An electrode, comprising the carbon catalyst according to claim 2.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A battery, comprising the electrode according to claim 8.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

An electrode, comprising the carbon catalyst according to claim 4.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A battery, comprising the electrode according to claim 10.