Extended two dimensional metal nanotubes and nanowires useful as fuel cell catalysts and fuel cells containing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9680160-B2
Application number	US-201113884220-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2011
Priority date	Nov 8, 2010
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

Metal nanotubes are provided comprising a composition having formula (M 1 )NT: wherein M 1 =Pt, Pd, or Au; wherein the nanotubes have: a wall thickness of from 2 to 12 nm; an outer diameter of from 30 to 100 nm; and a length of from 5 to 30 μm. Metal nanowires are also provided comprising a composition having formula (M 2 )NW: wherein M 2 =Ag or Cu; wherein when M 2 =Ag, the nanowires have a diameter of from 25 to 60 nm and a length of from 1 to 10 μm; and when M 2 =Cu, the nanowires have a diameter of from 50 to 100 nm and a length of from 10 to 50 μm. In other embodiments, fuel cells are also described having at least one anode; at least one cathode; an electrolyte membrane between the at least one anode and at least one cathode; and a catalyst comprising either of the above described metal nanotubes or nanowires.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Metal nanotubes comprising a composition having formula (M 1 )NT:
wherein M 1 =Pd;
wherein the nanotubes have:
a wall thickness of from 2 to 12 nm;
an outer diameter of from 30 to 100 nm; and
a length of from 5 to 30 μm,

wherein the metal nanotubes have a loading of Pt in an amount of from 5 wt % to 20 wt % on a surface of the metal nanotubes.

2. The metal nanotubes of claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness of the nanotubes is from 3 to 11 nm.

3. The metal nanotubes of claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the nanotubes is from 30 to 80 nm.

4. The metal nanotubes of claim 1 , wherein the length of the nanotubes is from 5 to 20 μm.

5. The metal nanotubes of claim 1 , wherein the metal nanotubes have wall thickness of from 3 to 8 nm, outer diameter of from 30 to 80 nm, and length of from 5 to 30 μm.

6. The metal nanotubes of claim 1 , wherein the metal nanotubes are formed by galvanic displacement of a metal nanowire (M 2 )NW, where M 2 =Ag or Cu.

7. The metal nanotubes of claim 6 , wherein M 2 =Ag.

8. The metal nanotubes of claim 6 , wherein M 2 =Cu.

9. A fuel cell comprising:
at least one anode;
at least one cathode;
an electrolyte membrane between the at least one anode and at least one cathode; and
a catalyst comprising the metal nanotubes as claimed in claim 1 .

10. The fuel cell of claim 9 , wherein the fuel cell is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

11. The fuel cell of claim 9 , wherein the fuel cell is a hydroxyl exchange membrane fuel cell.

Assignees

• Yan Yushan
• Alia Shaun
• Univ California

Inventors

• Yan Yushan
• Alia Shaun

Classifications

• B01J35/45

  Nanoparticles · CPC title

• Y10S977/762

  Nanowire or quantum wire, i.e. axially elongated structure having two dimensions of 100 nm or less · CPC title

• H01M4/92 Primary

  Metals of platinum group (H01M4/94 {, H01M4/9058} take precedence) · CPC title

• B01J23/38

  of noble metals · CPC title

• B01J35/0013

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic