Mixed-metal oxide catalyst layer with sacrificial material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016204442-A1
Application number	US-201514592166-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 8, 2015
Priority date	Jan 8, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A composite electrocatalyst layer comprises catalyst particles having non-carbon metal oxide support particles and precious metal particles deposited on the non-carbon metal oxide support particles. Carbon particles are mixed with, but discreet from, the catalyst particles. The catalyst particles can be titanium dioxide and ruthenium dioxide support with platinum deposited on the support. Electrodes are produced using the composite electrocatalyst.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A composite electrocatalyst layer comprising:
catalyst particles consisting essentially of non-carbon metal oxide support particles with precious metal particles deposited on the non-carbon metal oxide support particles; and carbon particles mixed with, but discreet from, the catalyst particles.

2 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 1 , wherein the carbon particles are graphitized carbon.

3 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 1 , wherein the carbon particles are of a carbon having a surface area too low to perform as a catalyst support.

4 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 1 , wherein the precious metal particles are platinum.

5 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 1 , wherein the non-carbon metal oxide support particles comprise a non-conductive metal oxide.

6 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive metal oxide is titanium dioxide.

7 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 5 , wherein the non-conductive metal oxide is a modified non-conductive metal oxide doped with a dopant.

8 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 1 , wherein the non-carbon metal oxide support particles comprise a non-conductive metal oxide and a conductive metal oxide.

9 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 8 , wherein the non-conductive metal oxide is titanium dioxide and the conductive metal oxide is an oxide of ruthenium.

10 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 9 , wherein oxide of ruthenium is one or both of ruthenium dioxide and ruthenium tetroxide.

11 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 9 , wherein the oxide of ruthenium is deposited onto the titanium dioxide to form the non-carbon metal oxide support particles.

12 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 9 , wherein the titanium dioxide is a modified titanium dioxide doped with a dopant.

13 . An electrode for a fuel cell, comprising the composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 1 .

14 . A composite electrocatalyst layer comprising:
catalyst particles comprising non-carbon metal oxide support particles of titanium dioxide and ruthenium dioxide, and precious metal particles deposited on the non-carbon metal oxide support particles; and sacrificial particles of a material selected to provide conductivity while corroding sacrificially, wherein the sacrificial particles are mixed with, but discreet from, the catalyst particles.

15 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 14 , wherein the material is a carbon.

16 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 14 , wherein the material is graphitized carbon.

17 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 14 , wherein the material is a carbon having a surface area too low to perform as a catalyst support.

18 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 14 , wherein the precious metal particles are platinum.

19 . The composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 14 , wherein the titanium dioxide is a modified titanium dioxide doped with a dopant.

20 . An electrode for a fuel cell, comprising the composite electrocatalyst layer of claim 14 .

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Dale Nilesh
• Huang Kan
• Niangar Ellazar
• Atienza Dianne

Classifications

• H01M4/9091

  Unsupported catalytic particles; loose particulate catalytic materials, e.g. in fluidised state · CPC title

• H01M4/9075

  Catalytic material supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers (H01M4/8807, H01M4/881, H01M4/8814, H01M4/925 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M4/8652 Primary

  as mixture · CPC title

• H01M4/8673

  Electrically conductive fillers · CPC title

• H01M4/925

  supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers · CPC title