Catalyst support particle structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9698428-B2
Application number	US-201514613430-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2015
Priority date	Feb 4, 2015
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

Electrocatalysts for use in fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies include a support substrate comprising a metal oxide nanotube having an internal support surface and conductive metal oxide particles impregnated on the internal support surface. Fuel cell electrodes are produced using the electrocatalyst coated on a gas diffusion layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrocatalyst comprising:
a support substrate comprising:
a metal oxide nanotube consisting of titanium dioxide having an internal support surface and an exterior support surface; and
conductive metal oxide particles consisting of ruthenium dioxide and impregnated only on the internal support surface; and
active catalyst particles deposited only on the exterior support surface, wherein the conductive metal oxide particles and the active catalyst particles are different materials.

2. The electrocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein the conductive metal oxide particles are evenly distributed across the internal support surface.

3. The electrocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein the conductive metal oxide particles are concentrated on one longitudinal end of the metal oxide nanotube.

4. The electrocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein the active catalyst particles are platinum.

5. The electrocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide nanotube has a triangular cross section.

6. The electrocatalyst of claim 5 , wherein the active catalyst particles are deposited only on corners of the exterior support surface of the metal oxide nanotube.

7. The electrocatalyst support of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide nanotube has a square cross section.

8. The electrocatalyst of claim 7 , wherein the active catalyst particles are deposited only on corners of the exterior support surface of the metal oxide nanotube.

9. An electrode comprising:
the electrocatalyst of claim 1 ; and
a gas diffusion layer on which the electrocatalyst is coated.

10. The electrode of claim 9 , wherein the metal oxide nanotube is a titanium dioxide nanotube and the conductive metal oxide is ruthenium dioxide.

11. The electrode of claim 9 , wherein the electrocatalyst is coated on the gas diffusion layer such that the metal oxide nanotubes extend from the gas diffusion layer in a parallel standing arrangement.

12. The electrode of claim 11 , wherein the conductive metal oxide is concentrated on the internal support surface at an end of the metal oxide nanotube opposite the gas diffusion layer.

13. The electrode of claim 9 , wherein the electrocatalyst is coated on the gas diffusion layer such that the metal oxide nanotubes are randomly positioned on the gas diffusion layer.

14. The electrode of claim 13 , wherein the conductive metal oxide is evenly distributed on the internal support surface of the metal oxide nanotube.

15. The electrode of claim 9 wherein the metal oxide nanotube has one of a triangular cross section and a square cross section.

16. The electrode of claim 15 , wherein the active catalyst particles are deposited only on corners of the exterior support surface of the metal oxide nanotube.

17. An electrocatalyst comprising:
a support substrate comprising:
a metal oxide nanotube having an internal support surface and an exterior support surface, wherein the metal oxide nanotube has a triangular cross section or a square cross section; and
conductive metal oxide particles impregnated only on the internal support surface; and
active catalyst particles deposited only on the exterior support surface, wherein the conductive metal oxide particles and the active catalyst particles are different materials.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Huang Kan

Classifications

• H01M4/8807

  Gas diffusion layers · CPC title

• H01M4/923

  Compounds thereof with non-metallic elements · CPC title

• H01M4/925 Primary

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

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title