The present disclosure includes a system, method, and device related to controlling brakes of a towed vehicle. A brake controller system includes a brake controller that controls the brakes of a towed vehicle based on acceleration. The brake controller is in communication with a speed sensor. The speed sensor determines the speed of a towing vehicle or a towed vehicle. The brake controller automatically sets a gain or boost based on the speed and acceleration.

The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing a carbon-supported platinum-transition metal alloy nanoparticle catalyst. More particularly, the present disclosure provides a method for preparing a carbon-supported platinum-transition metal alloy nanoparticle catalyst using a stabilizer, the method including the steps of: (a) mixing a platinum precursor, a transition metal precursor, carbon, stabilizer and a reducing agent solution, and carrying out washing and drying to obtain carbon-supported platinum-transition metal alloy nanoparticles; (b) mixing the carbon-supported platinum-transition metal alloy nanoparticles with an acetic acid solution, and carrying out washing and drying to obtain acetic acid-treated nanoparticles; and (c) heat treating the acetic acid-treated nanoparticles. Thus, it is possible to obtain a carbon-supported platinum-transition metal alloy nanoparticle catalyst through a more simple and eco-friendly process as compared to the related art, and to apply the catalyst to a high-performance and high-durability fuel cell catalyst.

A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes an ionically-conductive proton exchange membrane. Further, the MEA includes an anode contacting a first side of the membrane. The anode includes an anode gas diffusion layer (GDL). Further, the anode includes a first anode catalyst layer containing first catalyst particles, a hydrophobic polymer bonding agent, and a first ionomer bonding agent that lacks functional chains on a molecular backbone. The anode also includes a second anode catalyst layer containing second catalyst particles and a second ionomer bonding agent that includes functional chains on a molecular backbone. The MEA also includes a cathode contacting a second side of the membrane and comprising third catalyst particles and a cathode GDL.

The invention relates to a method for producing a catalyst material (47) comprising catalytically active nanoparticles (47), in particular for electrodes (7, 8, 45) with catalyst layers (30) as catalysts for a fuel cell (2), having the steps of: providing (52) a first starting material comprising a first metal, providing (53) a second starting material comprising a second metal, mixing the first starting material and the second starting material in order to form a reactant material, and thermally treating (56) the reactant material so that catalytically active nanoparticles (47) are produced from the first starting material and the second starting material and the first and second metal are connected together in order to at least partly form an alloy of the first and second metal in the catalytically active nanoparticles (47) such that catalytically active nanoparticles (47) are produced as an intermediate material comprising the alloy of the first and second metal. The content of the second metal and/or the second starting material on the surface (48) of the catalytically active nanoparticles (47) is reduced in the intermediate material so that a product material is produced from the intermediate material as the catalyst material (47).

Disclosed are an electrolyte membrane of a membrane-electrode assembly including an electronic insulation layer, which greatly improves the durability of the electrolyte membrane, and a method of preparing the same. The electrolyte membrane includes an ion exchange layer and an electronic insulation layer provided on the ion exchange layer, and the electronic insulation layer includes one or more catalyst complexes, and a second ionomer Particularly, each of the one or more catalyst complex includes a catalyst particle and a first ionomer coated on the entirety or a portion of the surface of the catalyst particle, and the one or more catalyst complexes are dispersed the second ionomer.

The electrocatalyst system that is configured to oxidize a methanol molecule using piezo-electrocatalysis includes a substrate and a piezoelectric semiconductor. The piezoelectric semiconductor is coupled to the substrate. The piezoelectric semiconductor includes a nanostructured semiconducting zinc oxide (ZnO) catalyst. The nanostructured semiconducting zinc oxide catalyst is characterized by a UV-ozone (UV-O.sub.3) treatment process. The electrocatalyst system may be provided in a methanol fuel cell.

The present disclosure relates to a catalyst for a fuel cell electrode including an active particle which includes a core comprising platinum, a transition metal excluding platinum, and an oxide of a non-transition metal; and a shell disposed on the core and including platinum, wherein the active particle includes platinum and the non-transition metal in a molar ratio of 100:1.80 to 100:4.00, a method of preparing the same, and a fuel cell including the same.

Methods of making and using an improved electrochemical catalyst are provided herein. Catalysts as described herein include a carbon-containing support at least partially coated with a transition metal oxide shell. Catalytic nanoparticles, such as platinum nanoparticles, ruthenium nanoparticles, and/or PtRu alloy nanoparticles, are dispersed in and/or on the shell. The catalysts exhibit enhanced long-term stability and electrochemical activity, particularly with respect to the oxidation of methanol. Microwave-assisted synthesis and thermal annealing steps make the process of producing these catalysts both efficient and more easily scalable. The resulting catalysts have a wide range of end uses in renewable energy applications, including various types of fuel cells.

An electrode catalyst is provided in which degradation of catalytic action over time is suppressed. The electrode catalyst includes a mesoporous carbon support having pores, and catalyst metal particles supported in at least some of the pores. The ratio r/R of the mean particle size r of the catalyst metal particles to the modal pore size R of the pores is from 0.01 to 0.6, and the mean particle size r is 6 nm or less. The modal pore size R of the pores is preferably from 2 to 50 nm.

A method for improving freezing resistance of a membrane electrode assembly is provided. In particular, the method improves freezing resistance of a membrane electrode assembly including conducting drying and heat treatment under certain conditions to produce an electrode that reduces formation of macro-cracks and micro-cracks in the electrode. Accordingly, water does not permeate the electrode excessively and the electrode does not break even when frozen.