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Categories: advanced materials, energy

BSA 08-33: Pt Monolayer on Noble Metal-Non Noble Metal Core-Shell Nanoparticles

BNL Reference Number: BSA 08-33

Patent Status: Application Number 20100197490 was published on August 5, 2010

Summary

Platinum is a very good, albeit expensive, electrocatalyst. In order to increase the catalytic activity of an electrocatalyst per mass platinum (the platinum mass activity), nanoparticles of less expensive materials are coated with atomically thin layers of platinum. The nanoparticles have a core-shell structure and include palladium, gold, and their alloys with other transition metals. The platinum-coated composite can be used as an electrocatalyst in place of pure platinum, for example, in fuel cells.

Description

A particle composite includes a nanoparticle having a core at least partially encapsulated by a shell of a different composition, the resulting core-shell nanoparticle at least partially encapsulated by an atomically thin layer of platinum. Particularly useful composites include platinum-encapsulated core-shell nanoparticles in which the core is a first-row transition metal and the shell is a noble metal other than platinum. The core-shell nanoparticles may be formed by subjecting a homogeneous allow of a noble metal and a non-noble metal to a heat treatment during which segregation of elements occurs, resulting in a core highly enriched in the non-noble metal and a shell highly enriched in the noble metal.

Journal Publication

• Platinum Monolayer on Nonnoble Metal−Noble Metal Core−Shell Nanoparticle Electrocatalysts for O2 Reduction (.pdf)

Have Questions?

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