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Categories: advanced materials, energy

BSA 08-32: Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction

BNL Reference Number: BSA 08-32

Patent Status: Application Number 20100216632 was published on August 26, 2010

Summary

During reactions, catalysts may be “poisoned,” dissolve, or corrode, leading to decreased performance and lifetime. The invention addresses this challenge by using an atomically thin layer of catalytically active noble metal to encapsulate a high-stability, self-protecting support particle. The support particles may be nanoparticles containing a component that easily passivates, creating a relatively inert surface layer which inhibits corrosion of the underlying constituents. Including the passivating element protects the catalytically active layer from these deleterious effects.

Description

A high-stability, self-protecting electrocatalyst includes a support particle that is an alloy containing at least one element from Groups IVB, VB, VIB, and VIIB of the periodic table at least partially encapsulated by an atomically thin layer of platinum. An exemplary structure would be Pd₃Ti or PdRe nanoparticles coated with a contiguous adlayer of platinum. A method of making such an electrocatalyst includes forming a continuous atomically thin adlayer of non-noble metal atoms on the support particle and then immersing the coated particles in a solution containing noble metal ions.

Have Questions?

For more information about this technology, contact Kimberley Elcess, (631) 344-4151.