Title: Platinum nickel catalyst alloy

Abstract

A Pt--Ni catalyst is provided which demonstrates an unusually high oxygen reduction mass activity. In some embodiments, the Pt--Ni catalyst is a Pt--Ni binary alloy. In some embodiments, the catalyst may be characterized as having a Pt fcc lattice parameter of less than 3.71 Angstroms or 0.371 nm. In some embodiments the catalyst has a Pt fcc lattice parameter of between 3.69 Angstroms (or 0.369 nm) and 3.73 Angstroms (or 0.373 nm). In some embodiments, the catalyst may be characterized as having a composition of close to Pt.sub.xNi.sub.(1-x), where x is between 0.2 and 0.4. In some embodiments the catalyst comprises nanostructured elements comprising microstructured support whiskers bearing a thin film of nanoscopic catalyst particles comprising a catalyst material described above. The catalyst may be particularly useful as a fuel cell catalyst and more specifically as a fuel cell cathode catalyst.

Inventors:

Debe, Mark K.; Vernstrom, George D.; Steinbach, Andrew J. L.

Issue Date:

Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013

Research Org.:

3M Innovative Properties Company

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1531878

Patent Number(s):

8557484

Application Number:

13/643,353

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company (St. Paul, MN)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22C - ALLOYS

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

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C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22C - ALLOYS

C22C19/03 - based on nickel
C22C30/00 - Alloys containing less than 50% by weight of each constituent
C22C5/04 - Alloys based on a platinum group metal

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

H01M4/92 - Metals of platinum group

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E60/50 - Fuel cells

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DOE Contract Number:  

FG36-07GO17007

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2011-04-26

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English