Impregnation Process Using a Bio-Templating Method for Nano-Catalyst Incorporation into the Electrodes of Solid-State Electrochemical Cells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016172683-A1
Application number	US-201514963564-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 9, 2015
Priority date	Dec 10, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A process for incorporating a nanocatalyst on the surface of and within the pores of an electrode comprising subjecting an electrode to a singular template impregnation to form a treated electrode having a bio-template layer; and then subjecting the treated electrode to a singular nano-catalyst impregnation for tethering the nano-catalyst to the treated electrode; and then removing the bio-template layer by performing thermolysis upon the treated electrode for forming a nano-catalyst bonded on the surface and within the pores of the electrode. A modified electrode or product made by this process is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A process for incorporating at least one nanocatalyst on the surface of and within a plurality of pores of an electrode comprising:
impregnating an electrode comprising pores with a plurality of catechol-based biomolecules to form a treated electrode having a bio-template layer; and then impregnating said treated electrode with at least one nano-catalyst; and then removing said bio-template layer by performing thermolysis upon the treated electrode for forming at least one nano-catalyst bonded on the surface and within the pores of said electrode.

2 . The process of claim 1 wherein said electrode is impregnated with the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules by dipping said electrode into a solution comprising the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules.

3 . The process of claim 1 wherein said electrode is impregnated with the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules by dripping a solution comprising the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules into said pores of said electrode.

4 . The process of claim 1 wherein said treated electrode is rinsed with a solvent after said treated electrode is impregnated with the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules and before said treated electrode is impregnated with the at least one nano-catalyst.

5 . The process of claim 1 wherein said treated electrode is impregnated with the at least one nano-catalyst by dipping said treated electrode into a salt solution comprising the at least one nano-catalyst.

6 . The process of claim 1 wherein said treated electrode is impregnated with the at least one nano-catalyst by dripping a salt solution comprising the at least one nano-catalyst into said pores of said electrode.

7 . The process of claim 1 wherein after said treated electrode is impregnated with the at least one nano-catalyst and before said bio-template layer is removed from said treated electrode, said treated electrode is dried.

8 . The process of claim 1 wherein the thermolysis is performed at a temperature that is less than about 1000 degrees Centigrade.

9 . The process of claim 1 comprising a plurality of impregnation steps, wherein the plurality of impregnation steps consist essentially of
impregnating said electrode comprising pores with the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules to form said treated electrode having said bio-template layer; and then
impregnating said treated electrode with the at least one nano-catalyst.

10 . The process of claim 1 wherein the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules comprises poly-dopamine.

11 . The process of claim 1 wherein the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules comprises poly-epinephrine.

12 . The process of claim 1 wherein the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules comprises melanin.

13 . The process of claim 1 wherein the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules comprises a compound that behaves like poly-dopamine and is selected from the group consisting of caffeic acid, DHC (d 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid), Tiron (4,5-dihydroxy-1,3 benzenedisulfonic acid disodium salt), gallic acid and celestine blue.

14 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said electrode is impregnated with from about 0.25 mg/ml to about 5 mg/ml loading of the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules.

15 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said electrode is impregnated with from about 0.5 mg/ml to about 2 mg/ml loading of the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules.

16 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said treated electrode is impregnated with from 0.2 mg to 10 mg loading of all of the at least one nano-catalyst.

17 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said treated electrode is impregnated with from 0.5 mg to 7 mg loading of all of the at least one nano-catalyst.

18 . An electrode comprising a plurality of pores and at least one nanocatalyst, wherein the at least one nanocatalyst is bonded on the surface and within the pores of the electrode by:
impregnating the electrode with a plurality of catechol-based biomolecules to form a treated electrode having a bio-template layer; and then impregnating said treated electrode with the at least one nano-catalyst; and then removing said bio-template layer by performing thermolysis upon the treated electrode.

19 . The electrode of claim 18 , wherein said electrode is loaded with from 0.2 mg to 10 mg of all of the at least one nano-catalyst.

20 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of catechol-based biomolecules comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of poly-dopamine, poly-epinephrine, melanin, and a compound that behaves like poly-dopamine that is selected from the group consisting of caffeic acid, DHC (d 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid), Tiron (4,5-dihydroxy-1,3 benzenedisulfonic acid disodium salt), gallic acid and celestine blue.

Assignees

• Univ West Virginia

Inventors

• Sabolsky Edward M
• Ozmen Ozcan
• Zondlo John W

Classifications

• H01M8/1246

  the electrolyte consisting of oxides · CPC title

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M4/8846 Primary

  Impregnation · CPC title

• H01M2300/0071

  Oxides · CPC title

• C25B11/035

  Chemistry & Metallurgy · mapped topic