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General Information
Categories: advanced materials, energy
BSA 11-11: Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction with Reduced Platinum Oxidation and Dissolution Rates
BNL Reference Number: BSA 11-11
Patent Status: U.S. Patent Number 8,308,989 was issued on November 13, 2012
Summary
Above: Scanning tunneling micrograph showing atoms of platinum on an oxide surface. Below: Results of a density functional theory calculation of atomic positions of platinum on an oxide surface, showing good agreement with experimental results.
Platinum is the most efficient electrocatalyst for accelerating the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells. Under operating conditions, though, platinum catalysts can dissolve. When used in place of pure platinum, platinum-metal oxide composites can spare the precious metal when used as fuel cell catalysts.
Description
Metal oxides are not typically conductive enough to be good substrates for electrochemical deposition of metals. In the inventive method, non-noble metal cations are first adsorbed onto the surface of a metal oxide core. The cation adsorbate is then reduced to provide an appropriate surface for the subsequent deposition of noble metal from a solution of metal salts.
Benefits
Electrocatalysts made from layers of noble metals, such as platinum, on metal oxide cores stabilize the noble metal against dissolution, resulting in a longer catalytic lifetime compared to bulk platinum/carbon catalysts.
Applications and Industries
Fuel cell catalysts; oxygen reduction; heterogeneous catalysis.
Journal Publication
Have Questions?
For more information about this technology, contact Kimberley Elcess, (631) 344-4151.
