Metastable alloys have recently emerged as high-performance catalysts, extending the toolbox of binary alloy materials that can be utilized to mediate electrocatalytic reactions. In particular, nanostructured metastable ordered intermetallic compounds are particularly challenging to synthesize. Here the present invention is directed to a method for synthesizing sub-15 nm metastable ordered intermetallic Pd31Bi12 nanoparticles at room temperature, in a single step, by pulsed electrochemical deposition onto high surface area carbon supports. The resulting Pd31Bi12 nanoparticles displays a 7× enhancement of the mass activity relative to Pt/C and a 4× enhancement relative to Pd/C for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The high performance of Pd31Bi12 nanoparticles is demonstrated to arise from reduced oxygen binding caused by alloying of Pd with Bi. The isolation of Pd-sites from each other facilitate methanol tolerant ORR behavior.

A support and metal catalyst with improved electric conductivity is provided. A support and metal catalyst, including: a support powder; and metal fine particles supported on the support powder; wherein: the support powder is an aggregate of support fine particles; the support fine particles have a chained portion structured by a plurality of crystallites being fusion bonded to form a chain; the support fine particles are structured with metal oxide; and the metal oxide is doped with a dopant element, and an atomic ratio of titanium with respect to total of titanium and tin is 0.30 to 0.80, is provided.

A system and a method for separation of ions from ions-containing medium is disclosed herein, that utilizes capacitive-faradaic fuel cells (CFFC) particles coated at least partially with catalysts capable of catalyzing redox reactions provided a reductant (fuel) and/or an oxidant, thereby polarizing the particles to more effectively absorb charged species (ions) from the water upon introducing, e.g., H.sub.2 gas or O.sub.2 gas, in the medium during the adsorption or regeneration. The same concept is utilized in a hybrid electrochemical cell for providing a system and a method for generating and converting electrochemical energy.

An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for synthesizing nanoparticles by irradiating, with an electron beam, a nanoparticle aqueous solution in a reaction vessel provided inside a shielding chamber, and more particularly, to an apparatus for synthesizing nanoparticles, which is capable of preventing radiation generated in a shielding chamber from leaking out, and facilitating maintenance and repair.

Provided is a catalyst for electrode that has excellent catalytic activity and that is capable of contributing toward lower PEFC costs. This catalyst for electrode includes: a hollow carbon support having nanopores with a pore diameter of 1 to 20 nm; and a plurality of catalyst particles supported on the support. The catalyst particles are supported both inside and outside the nanopores of the support, are composed of (zerovalent) Pt, and when analysis of the particle size distribution of the catalyst particles is performed using three-dimensional, reconstructed images obtained through STEM-based electron tomography measurement, the percentage of catalyst particles supported inside the nanopores is 50% or more.

Provided is a catalyst for electrode that has excellent catalytic activity and that is capable of contributing toward lower PEFC costs. This catalyst for electrode includes: a hollow carbon support having nanopores with a pore diameter of 1 to 20 nm; and a plurality of catalyst particles supported on the support. The catalyst particles are supported both inside and outside the nanopores of the support, are composed of (zerovalent) Pt, and when analysis of the particle size distribution of the catalyst particles is performed using three-dimensional, reconstructed images obtained through STEM-based electron tomography measurement, the percentage of catalyst particles supported inside the nanopores is 50% or more.

A carrier powder is thermodynamically stable and conductivity can be easily provided thereto. A carrier powder includes an aggregate of carrier fine particles; wherein: the carrier fine particles include a chained portion structured by fusion bonding a plurality of crystallites into a chain; the carrier fine particles contain titanium oxide; and a ratio of anatase phase/rutile phase of the titanium oxide of the carrier powder is 0.2 or lower.

The present invention provides a method of preparing a catalyst material which comprises electrocatalyst particles, a support material, and graphitic carbon nitride, wherein the method comprises applying graphitic carbon nitride to a catalyst material precursor. Also provided is a catalyst material comprising graphitic carbon nitride.

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.

The present invention provides a method of preparing a catalyst material, said catalyst material comprising a support material and an electrocatalyst dispersed on the support material; said method comprising the steps: i) providing a support material; then ii) 10 depositing a silicon oxide precursor on the support material; then iii) carrying out a heat treatment step to convert the silicon oxide precursor to silicon oxide; then iv) depositing said electrocatalyst or a precursor of said electrocatalyst on the support material; then v) removal of at least some of the silicon oxide.