Patent classifications
H01M4/8663
Production method of catalyst ink for fuel cell, manufacturing method of catalyst layer for fuel cell and manufacturing method of membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell
It becomes easy to regulate the storage modulus of the ionomer solution to be not lower than 150 Pa. The production method of catalyst ink for fuel cell includes steps of: (i) preparing a catalyst dispersion by mixing an electrode catalyst, water and an alcohol; (ii) preparing a gelated ionomer solution by mixing an ionomer and a solvent; and (iii) producing catalyst ink by mixing the catalyst dispersion and the gelated ionomer solution, wherein the step (ii) comprises concentration a step of concentrating the gelated ionomer solution.
METHODS OF FABRICATING SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS
In various embodiments, a solid oxide fuel cell is fabricated in part by disposing a functional layer between the cathode and the solid electrolyte.
Electrochemical device comprising thin porous metal sheet
Electrochemical device using thin micro-porous metal sheets. The porous metal sheet may have a thickness less than 200 μm, provides three-dimensional networked pore structures of pore sizes in the range of 2.0 nm to 5.0 μm, and is electrically conductive. The micro-porous metal sheet is used for positively and/or negatively-charged electrodes by providing large specific contact surface area of reactants/electron. Nano-sized catalyst or features can be added inside pores of the porous metal sheet of pore sizes at sub- and micrometer scale to enhance the reaction activity and capacity. Micro-porous ceramic materials may be coated on the porous metal sheet at a thickness of less than 40 μm to enhance the functionality of the porous metal sheet and may function as a membrane separator. The electrochemical device may be used for decomposing molecules and for synthesis of molecules such as synthesis of ammonia from water and nitrogen molecules.
FUEL CELL CATALYST, MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR, AND MEMBRANE-ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING SAME
Disclosed are a fuel cell catalyst of which only a portion, which has relatively low catalytic activity and in which the greatest amount of platinum elution occurs and platinum oxide is easily formed, is selectively coated with a protective layer, and thus degradation due to the long-term operation of a fuel cell can be effectively prevented while also minimizing a deterioration in catalytic activity; a manufacturing method therefor; and a membrane-electrode assembly including same. The fuel cell catalyst of the present invention comprises: a nanoparticle containing platinum; and a protective layer which is selectively coated on only a portion of the surface of the nanoparticle and can suppress the oxidation of the platinum through electronic interaction with the nanoparticle.
METAL-BASED SOLID OXIDE ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES
A solid oxide electrochemical device comprises a solid electrolyte layer, the first surface and second surface having surface pores formed therein; a first composite electrolyte layer composed of metal and a solid electrolyte and having a first porosity; a second composite electrolyte layer composed of metal and the solid electrolyte and having the first porosity, the solid electrolyte layer sandwiched between the first composite electrolyte layer and the second composite electrolyte layer; a cathode on one of the first composite electrolyte layer and the second composite electrolyte layer; and an anode on another of the first composite electrolyte layer and the second composite electrolyte layer. The anode comprises an anode metal layer comprising pores; anode active material; and reforming catalyst, wherein the anode active material and the reforming catalyst line walls of the pores in the anode metal layer.
TUNGSTEN METAL/TUNGSTEN NITRIDE ENHANCED PLATINUM-BASED ORR CATALYST AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME
A method for forming an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst (200, 900) may include providing a carbon (210, 910) supported platinum nanoparticle (220, 920) substrate (Pt/C) (110) and applying a tungsten nitride (WN) film (940) onto the surface of the Pt/C substrate (210, 220, 910, 920) using atomic layer deposition (ALD) (120). The Pt/C substrate (210, 220, 910, 920) with the WN film (940) may then be oxidized at a low temperature (130) and annealed at a high temperature in order to reduce WN to metallic tungsten (W) (140). The metallic W forms a blocking layer (230, 930) over coarse Pt nanoparticles (220, 920) and improves the activity and the durability of the Pt/C catalyst (900, 200) when used in fuel cells or related applications.
COMPOSITIONS AND PROCESSES FOR OPTIMIZING OXYGEN REDUCTION AND OXYGEN EVOLUTION REACTIONS
Compositions and processes for optimizing oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions are provided. Oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution catalysts include oxide compositions having a general formula a formula A.sub.2-xMO.sub.y, where x is electrochemically tuned to find optimal A content that delivers the best catalytic performance in a chemical system. The process provides the ability to find the optimal catalytic performance by tuning A and hence, the binding strength of O.
PATTERNED CATALYST LAYERS IN FUEL CELLS
A fuel cell includes a flow field plate having at least one channel and at least one land, where each of the at least one channel is positioned between two adjacent lands. The fuel cell further includes a gas diffusion layer (GDL) positioned between the flow field plate and a catalyst layer, where the catalyst layer has a first region aligned with the at least one channel and a second region aligned with the at least one land. The first region may have a first catalyst material supported by a first catalyst support region, and the second region may have a second catalyst material supported by a second catalyst support region.
FUEL CELL COMPONENTS PROTECTED WITH NITRIDE MATERIALS
A fuel cell component including a fuel cell substrate and a nitride material. The material may be a nitride compound having a chemical formula A.sub.xB.sub.yN.sub.z, where A is a metal, B is a metal different than A, N is nitrogen, x>0, y<7 and 0<z<12. The nitride compound may have a ratio of a stoichiometric factor to a reactivity factor of greater than 1.0. The stoichiometric factor indicates the reactivity of a nitride compound with chemical species as compared to a baseline nitride compound. The reactivity factor indicates the reaction enthalpy of the nitride compound and the chemical species as compared to a baseline nitride compound and the chemical species. The nitride compound may be Fe.sub.3Mo.sub.3N, Ni.sub.2Mo.sub.3N, Ni.sub.2W.sub.3N, CuNi.sub.3N, Fe.sub.3WN, Zn.sub.3Nb.sub.3N, V.sub.3Zn.sub.2N or a combination thereof. The nitride compound may be Si.sub.6Y.sub.3N.sub.11, Ni.sub.2Mo.sub.4N, Fe.sub.3Mo.sub.5N.sub.6 or a combination thereof.
CATHODE MATERIAL FOR LITHIUM-AIR BATTERY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CATHODE USING SAME
The present invention relates to a cathode material for a lithium-air battery and a method of manufacturing a cathode using the same. The cathode material of the present invention includes a solvent component and thus includes an electrolyte in a small amount compared to a conventional cathode material, thereby reducing the weight of a cathode manufactured using the cathode material, ultimately increasing the energy density of a lithium-air battery including the cathode.