An energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous catalyst material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

The present disclosure relates to an electrolyte membrane for fuel cells including a hydrogen peroxide generating catalyst and a hydrogen peroxide decomposing catalyst, the electrolyte membrane exhibiting highly improved durability, and a method of manufacturing the same. Specifically, the electrolyte membrane includes a support and a catalyst particle including a catalyst metal supported by the support, the catalyst metal including one selected from the group consisting of a first metal having catalyst activity to generate hydrogen peroxide, a second metal having catalyst activity to decompose hydrogen peroxide, and a combination thereof.

A supported metal catalyst in which an electric conductivity is enhanced. The supported metal catalyst includes a support powder; and metal fine particles supported by the support powder. The support powder is an aggregate of support fine particles; the support fine particles are provided with a chained portion structured by a plurality of crystallites being fusion-bonded to form a chain; the support fine particles are structured with a metal oxide; and the supported amount of metal fine particles per unit area of the surface area of the support powder calculated based on sphere approximation is 3.4 to 13.7 (mg/m.sup.2).

A support powder can improve cell performance under high humidity environment. 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 are fine particles of oxide compound and has a chained portion structured by a plurality of crystallites being fusion bonded to form a chain; the crystallites have a size of 10 to 30 nm; the support powder has a void; the void includes a secondary pore having a pore diameter of more than 25 nm and 80 nm or less determined by BJH method; and a volume of the secondary pore per unit volume of the support fine particles structuring the support powder is 0.313 cm.sup.3/cm.sup.3 or more, is provided.

A method for preparing a cathode catalyst layer structure for a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell includes forming a cathode catalyst layer structure having at least a first catalyst layer and a second catalyst layer. The second catalyst layer is configured to be positioned closer to a proton exchange membrane of the membrane electrode assembly than the first catalyst layer, the first catalyst layer is formed from a first slurry, and the second catalyst layer is formed from a second slurry. An average particle diameter of a platinum catalyst, a specific surface area of a carbon support, an I/C ratio, and a weight percentage of the platinum catalyst are selected based on the total weight of the carbon support and the platinum catalyst in each of the first slurry and the second slurry.

A supporting body includes a cluster of an alloy containing Pt and Co, and a support on which the cluster is supported. An amount of Pt supported is 1×10.sup.−14 ng/cm.sup.2 or more and 1×10.sup.5 ng/cm.sup.2 or less.

A support powder can improve cell performance under high humidity environment. 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 are fine particles of oxide compound and has a chained portion structured by a plurality of crystallites being fusion bonded to form a chain; the crystallites have a size of 10 to 30 nm; the support powder has a void; the void includes a secondary pore having a pore diameter of more than 25 nm and 80 nm or less determined by BJH method; and a volume of the secondary pore per unit volume of the support fine particles structuring the support powder is 0.313 cm.sup.3/cm.sup.3 or more, is provided.

A catalyst support material for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The catalyst support material includes a metal material of an at least partially oxidized form of TiNb.sub.3O.sub.6 reactive with H.sub.3O.sup.+, HF and/or SO.sub.3.sup.− to form reaction products in which the metal material of the at least partially oxidized form of TiNb.sub.3O.sub.6 accounts for a stable molar percentage of the reaction products.

The use of an electrocatalyst material in an anode catalyst layer, wherein the electrocatalyst material comprises a support material, the support material comprising a plurality of individual support particles or aggregates wherein each individual support particle or aggregate has dispersed thereon (i) first particles and (ii) second particles, wherein: (i) the first particles comprise Pt optionally alloyed with an alloying metal X1; wherein the optional alloying metal X1 is selected from the group consisting of Rh, Ti, Os, V, Co, Ni, Ga, Hf, Sn, Ir, Pd, Mo, Zn, W, Zr and Re; (ii) the second particles consist essentially of a second metal or a second metal compound wherein the second metal is selected from the group consisting of Ir and Ru and the second metal compound comprises IrX2 wherein X2 is selected from the group consisting of Ta, Nb, Ru, Ni and Co; and wherein if the first particles consist of Pt then the second particles do not comprise IrTa; and wherein if the first particles consist of Pt without alloying metal X1 and the second particles consist essentially of a second metal which is Ir, each individual support particle or aggregate of the support material of the electrocatalyst material has dispersed thereon only the said first and second particles; or wherein each individual support particle or aggregate has dispersed thereon (i) first particles and (ii) third particles, wherein: (iii) the third particles comprise Au or a third metal alloy; wherein the third metal alloy is selected from the group consisting of AuX3 and PdX4, wherein X3 is selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Cu, Ir and Sn; and X4 is selected from the group consisting of Hg, Au, Sn, Co, Ni, Ga, In, Zn, W and Pb.

A fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly includes a support material including a ceramic material and iridium oxide, wherein a weight fraction of iridium oxide, based on metallic iridium, with respect to the total weight of the support material, is at most 50 wt%, and the support material has a weight loss of less than 3 wt%, based on the weight fraction of the iridium oxide on exposure of the support material to a 3.3 vol% hydrogen stream in argon at a temperature of 80° C. for 12 hours.