This anode catalyst layer for a fuel cell contains electrode catalyst particles, a carbon carrier on which the electrode catalyst particles are loaded, water electrolysis catalyst particles, a proton-conducting binder, and graphitized carbon. The graphitized carbon has a bulk density of 0.50/cm.sup.3 or less.

A proton conductor contains a metal oxide that has a perovskite structure and that is represented by formula (1): A.sub.xB.sub.1-yM.sub.yO.sub.3-δ, where an element A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ba, Ca, and Sr, an element B is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ce and Zr, an element M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Yb, Er, Ho, Tm, Gd, In, and Sc, δ indicates an oxygen deficiency amount, and 0.95≤x≤1 and 0<y≤0.5 are satisfied.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a catalyst for an electrochemical cell, wherein: a graphited porous carbon material is treated with an oxygen-containing plasma or an aqueous medium containing an oxidising agent, at least one noble metal compound is deposited on the treated carbon material, the impregnated carbon material is brought into contact with a reducing agent such that the noble metal compound is reduced to a metallic noble metal.

There is provided a catalyst layer for a fuel cell that can inhibit reduction in water electrolysis function. The catalyst layer for a fuel cell according to this disclosure comprises carbon supports on which Pt particles are supported, and Ir oxide particles, wherein the ratio of the mean primary particle size of the Ir oxide particles with respect to the mean primary particle size of the Pt particles is 20 or greater. The mean primary particle size of the Pt particles may be 20.0 nm or smaller and the mean primary particle size of the Ir oxide particles may be 100.0 nm to 500.0 nm.

The present disclosure is directed to compositions and structures of supported metal catalysts for use in applications such as direct methanol fuel cells. Generally, implementations include supported metal catalysts that include Pt active sites that have been modified by addition or co-localization of a second metal such as Cu, Co, Ni, and/or other base metals to lower the inhibiting effect of strongly-adsorbed CO, an intermediate of methanol oxidation. An example aspect of the present disclosure includes catalyst compositions where the exterior metal sites in the supported catalyst include at least two metals: Pt and a competitive binder (e.g., a second metal).

The disclosure provides a method for forming noble metal nanostructures on a support. The method comprises mixing one or more noble metal precursor with a first solvent and a base to obtain a noble metal precursor solution; feeding the noble metal precursor solution to a spiral tube reactor; heating the spiral tube reactor containing the noble metal precursor solution to reduce the one or more noble metal precursor to obtain noble metal nanostructures; and mixing a support ink with the noble metal nanostructures obtained after heating, wherein the support ink comprises a second solvent, the support and an ink acid. There are also provided noble metal nanostructures on a support and a use thereof as an electro-catalyst in an electrode for fuel cell applications.

An anode catalyst layer for a fuel cell includes: electrode catalyst particles; a carbon carrier carrying the electrode catalyst particles; water electrolysis catalyst particles; a proton-conductive binder; and a graphitized carbon, wherein the content of the graphitized carbon in the anode catalyst layer for a fuel cell is 3-70 mass % with respect to the total mass of the electrode catalyst particles, the carbon carrier, and the graphitized carbon.

An electrocatalyst including carbon and a nanosheet supported on the carbon. The nanosheet includes a metal ruthenium nanosheet, and a platinum atomic layer formed on an entire surface of the metal ruthenium nanosheet. The metal ruthenium nanosheet is a monoatomic layer, and the platinum atomic layer is a monoatomic layer or a monoatomic layer laminated body.

An electrochemical device includes a lithium anode having a red poly(benzonitrile) coating covering at least a portion of the anode; a separator and an air cathode comprising reduced graphene oxide over gas diffusion layer; and an electrolyte comprising an ether solvent, benzonitrile, and a lithium salt.

The invention includes a method of making a catalytic electrode for a metal-air cell in which a carbon-catalyst composite is produced by heating a manganese compound in the presence of a particulate carbon material to form manganese oxide catalyst on the surfaces of the particulate carbon, and then adding virgin particulate carbon material to the carbon-catalyst composite to produce a catalytic mixture that is formed into a catalytic layer. A current collector and an air diffusion layer are added to the catalytic layer to produce the catalytic electrode. The catalytic electrode can be combined with a separator and a negative electrode in a cell housing including an air entry port through which air from outside the container can reach the catalytic electrode.