Thin-film catalyst with enhanced catalyst-support interactions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019109330-A1
Application number	US-201816155725-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 9, 2018
Priority date	Oct 9, 2017
Publication date	Apr 11, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An efficient, stable catalyst material having a thin film catalyst supported on a support of metal carbide, nitride, oxide, carbonitride, oxycarbonitride core. The thin film catalyst is covalently bonded to the support.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A catalyst material comprising:
a support comprising a material selected from metal carbides, nitrides, oxides and combination thereof; and a thin film covalently bonded to the support, the thin film having a thickness of 0.5 to 5.0 nm, the thin film comprising a catalytic metal selected from the group consisting of platinum-group metals, platinum-group metal oxides, transition metals, transition metal oxides, and combinations thereof.

2 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein the support structure consists of carbides selected from the group consisting of titanium carbide, tantalum carbide, and zirconium carbide.

3 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein the support is free of elemental carbon.

4 . The catalyst of claim 3 , wherein the support consists of nanoparticles.

5 . The catalyst of claim 4 , wherein the support has an effective diameter of 10 nm to 500 nm.

6 . The catalyst of claim 5 , wherein the support has an effective diameter of 40 nm to 60 nm.

7 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein the thin film encapsulates the support.

8 . The catalyst of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of thin films deposited on the support as patches.

9 . The catalyst material of claim 1 , included in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC).

10 . The catalyst material of claim 1 , including in a unitized reversible or regenerative fuel cell (URFC).

11 . A fuel cell comprising:
a catalytic material comprising: a support comprising a material selected from metal carbides, nitrides, oxides and combination thereof; and a thin film covalently bonded to the support, the thin film having a thickness of 0.5 to 5.0 nm, the thin film comprising a catalytic metal selected from the group consisting of platinum-group metals, platinum-group metal oxides, transition metals, transition metal oxides, and combinations thereof; wherein the thin film interacts with the support through Strong Metal Support Interactions.

12 . The fuel cell of claim 11 , wherein the support structure consists of carbides selected from the group consisting of titanium carbide, tantalum carbide, and zirconium carbide.

13 . The fuel cell of claim 11 , wherein the support is free of elemental carbon.

14 . The fuel cell of claim 13 , wherein the support consists of nanoparticles.

15 . The fuel cell of claim 14 , wherein the support has an effective diameter of 10 nm to 500 nm.

16 . The fuel cell of claim 11 , wherein the thin film encapsulates the support.

17 . The fuel cell of claim 11 , comprising a plurality of thin films deposited on the support as patches.

18 . The fuel cell material of claim 11 , included in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC).

19 . The fuel cell material of claim 11 , including in a unitized reversible or regenerative fuel cell (URFC).

20 . A method of making a catalyst material comprising:
providing a plurality of a nanoparticles comprising a support material selected from metal carbides, nitrides, oxides and combination thereof; and depositing on the plurality of nanoparticles a thin film covalently bonded to the support material, the thin film having a thickness of 0.5 to 5.0 nm, the thin film comprising a catalytic metal selected from the group consisting of platinum-group metals, platinum-group metal oxides, transition metals, transition metal oxides, and combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Uchicago Argonne Llc

Inventors

• Shirvanian Alizera Pezhman
• Myers Deborah J
• Elam Jeffrey W

Classifications

• H01M4/925 Primary

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

• H01M4/8867

  Vapour deposition · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• B82Y30/00

  Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title