Disclosed are a catalyst for an electrochemical cell and a method of manufacturing the catalyst. The catalyst includes a support, a first catalyst supported on the support, wherein the first catalyst is a catalyst for hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) or oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), a second catalyst supported on the first catalyst, wherein the second catalyst is a catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and a protective layer formed on the first catalyst and the second catalyst.

The invention generally relates to electrodes for selective vapor-phase electrochemical reactions in aqueous environments, and more particularly to a structured electrode having an electrocatalyst layer covered by a porous, hydrophobic polymer layer for control of liquid-phase and gas-phase reactions in aqueous environments. The porous, hydrophobic polymer layer supports an evolved gas bubble or plastron layer over the electrocatalyst layer to ensure the interface is preferentially accessible to gas-phase or highly volatile reactants. A membrane-free electrolyzer or electrochemical system can be built using the hydrophobic structured electrodes, separating the gases as they are evolved and before they are mixed or dissolved in any significant quantity.

A method of preparing a metal nanoparticle on a surface includes subjecting a metal source to a temperature and a pressure in a carrier gas selected to provide a vapor metal species at a vapor pressure in the range of about 10.sup.4 to about 10.sup.11 atm; contacting the vapor metal species with a heated substrate; and depositing the metal as a nanoparticle on the substrate.

A fuel cell oxidation reduction reaction catalyst includes a carbon powder substrate, an amorphous conductive metal oxide intermediate layer on the substrate, and a plurality of chained electrocatalyst particle strands bound to the layer to form an interconnected network film thereon having a thickness of up to 10 atom monolayers.

Manufacturing apparatus, systems and method of making silicon (Si) nanowires on carbon based powders, such as graphite, that may be used as anodes in lithium ion batteries are provided. In some embodiments, an inventive tumbler reactor and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system and method for growing silicon nanowires on carbon based powders in scaled up quantities to provide production scale anodes for the battery industry are described.

Manufacturing apparatus, systems and method of making silicon (Si) nanowires on carbon based powders, such as graphite, that may be used as anodes in lithium ion batteries are provided. In some embodiments, an inventive tumbler reactor and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system and method for growing silicon nanowires on carbon based powders in scaled up quantities to provide production scale anodes for the battery industry are described.

A manufacturing process includes: depositing a catalyst support on a gas diffusion layer to form a catalyst support-coated gas diffusion layer; depositing a catalyst on the catalyst support-coated gas diffusion layer to form a catalyst-coated gas diffusion layer; and depositing an ionomer on the catalyst-coated gas diffusion layer to form an ionomer-coated gas diffusion layer. A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes: a gas diffusion layer; a polymer electrolyte membrane; and a catalyst layer disposed between the gas diffusion layer and the polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the catalyst layer includes an ionomer, and a concentration of the ionomer varies within the catalyst layer according to a concentration profile.

Platinum group metal containing chemical precursors suitable for vapor deposition are disclosed. Methods of using these precursors for Platinum depositions are also disclosed. The chemical precursors and methods are particularly suitable for depositing catalyst material on electrodes.

The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a catalyst layer and the method includes the following steps. First, a solution fabrication step is provided for fabricating a solution. The solution includes a solvent, a polymer and a titanium-containing precursor. A layering step is then provided for evaporating the solvent to form a gel-like layer, and a nitridation step is performed for treating the gel-like layer in ammonia ambience to remove the polymer so as to obtain a catalyst support, in which the catalyst support is composed of titanium nitride with a plurality of pores. A catalyst preparation step is performed for forming a plurality of platinum particles on the catalyst support.

The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a catalyst layer and the method includes the following steps. First, a solution fabrication step is provided for fabricating a solution. The solution includes a solvent, a polymer and a titanium-containing precursor. A layering step is then provided for evaporating the solvent to form a gel-like layer, and a nitridation step is performed for treating the gel-like layer in ammonia ambience to remove the polymer so as to obtain a catalyst support, in which the catalyst support is composed of titanium nitride with a plurality of pores. A catalyst preparation step is performed for forming a plurality of platinum particles on the catalyst support.