An electrolyser (F) for generating hydrogen from water, the electrolyser comprising an electrode (102), the electrode (120) comprising nanoparticles selected from Group 1 nanoparticles or alloys or composites or mixtures thereof.

The invention provides a cathode for the nitrogen reduction reaction, comprising an electrically conductive substrate and an electrocatalytic composition on the substrate, wherein the electrocatalytic composition comprises: a support material present in one or more crystalline phases; and metallic clusters dispersed on the support material, the metallic clusters comprising at least one metal selected from ruthenium, iron, rhodium, iridium and molybdenum, wherein at least 80 mass % of the support material is present in a semiconductive crystalline phase having a conduction band minimum energy below (more positive than) −0.3 V relative to the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE).

Provided is an active layer composition of a reduction electrode for brine electrolysis containing a metal precursor mixture containing a ruthenium precursor, a platinum precursor, and a lanthanide metal precursor, and an organic solvent containing an alcohol-based compound and an amine-based compound. Also provided is a reduction electrode containing a metal substrate and an active layer that is a dried and heat treated active layer composition positioned on the metal substrate.

Methods for the production in an electrochemical cell of metal oxide deposited graphene and/or graphite nanoplatelet structures having a thickness of less than 100 nm, in a cell having a positive electrode which is graphitic and an electrolyte comprising an intercalating anion and a metal cation, wherein the metal is selected from ruthenium, manganese, iridium, tin, and silver. The methods comprising the step of passing a current through the cell to intercalate anions into the graphitic positive electrode so as to exfoliate the graphitic positive electrode and such that the metal ion undergoes electrodeposition in the form of the corresponding metal oxide to produce the metal oxide deposited graphene and/or graphite nanoplatelet structures.

Methods of making catalyst electrodes comprising sputtering at least Pt and Ir onto nanostructured whiskers to provide multiple alternating layers comprising, respectively in any order, at least Pt and Ir. In some exemplary embodiments, catalyst electrodes described, or made as described, herein are anode catalyst, and in other exemplary embodiments cathode catalyst. Catalysts electrodes are useful, for example, in generating H.sub.2 and O.sub.2 from water.

The method allows to produce catalysts with nanoparticles of platinum and its alloys with metals of a given composition, with high values of catalytic activity in an oxygen electroreduction reaction, and with predetermined values of structural characteristics. The method comprises preparation of a solution of chloroplatinic acid or a mixture of chloroplatinic acid with metal salts, mixing thereof with dispersed carbon or non-carbon carriers, their mixtures and compositions with specific surface area of more than 60 m.sup.2/g, dispersion of the obtained mixture, chemical reduction of compounds of platinum and a metal salt with subsequent deposition of nanoparticles of metallic platinum or its alloys on a dispersed carrier being carried out by purging gases selected from: nitrogen oxides (N.sub.2O, NO, NO.sub.2), carbon oxides (CO, CO.sub.2), sulfur oxide (SO.sub.2), ammonia (NH.sub.3) or their mixtures through the solution at a temperature of the solution in the range from 5 to 98 C.

Described herein is a plurality of acicular particles dispersed with ionomer binder for use in an electrolyzer. The acicular particles comprise a microstructured core with a layer of catalytic material on at least one portion of the surface of the microstructured core. The catalytic material comprises iridium and the microstructured core comprises at least one of a polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon and heterocyclic compounds. The acicular particles are substantially free of platinum.

The invention relates to a device, including: a channel including an inlet at a first end of the channel and an outlet at a second end of the channel; a cathode arranged in the channel, which cathode includes a first segment selected from titanium, stainless steel and titanium provided with a mixed metal oxide coating layer including ruthenium oxide and/or iridium oxide and a second segment including carbon, such as a carbon (felt) segment, arranged downstream of the first segment, an anode, arranged in the channel, selected from titanium or, stainless steel and titanium provided with a mixed metal oxide coating layer including ruthenium oxide and/or iridium oxide, which coating layer faces the cathode; and a power source electrically connected to the cathode and the anode. The invention further relates to a method for the production of chlorine dioxide.

Described herein are metallic excavated nanoframes and methods for producing metallic excavated nanoframes. A method may include providing a solution including a plurality of excavated nanoparticles dispersed in a solvent, and exposing the solution to chemical corrosion to convert the plurality of excavated nanoparticles into a plurality of excavated nanoframes.

A catalyst composition and a use thereof are provided. The catalyst composition includes a support and at least one Ru.sub.XM.sub.Y alloy attached to the surface of the support, wherein M is a transition metal and XY. The catalyst composition is used in an alkaline electrochemical energy conversion reaction, and can improve the energy conversion efficiency for an electrochemical energy conversion device and significantly reduce material costs.