Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of an open cell porous structure the cells of which are optionally filled with an elastomeric or thermosetting plastic material. The open cell porous structure comprises a nanocrystalline metallic coating comprising nanocrystals having a crystallite size of from about 5 nm to about 150 nm.

Abstract: A process for the electrochemical deposition of nanoscale catalyst particles using a sacrificial hydrogen anode as counter electrode for the working electrode is disclosed, whereby a concurrent development of hydrogen at the working electrode is mostly or completely avoided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode that includes an electrically conducting substrate based on a valve metal having a main proportion of titanium, tantalum or niobium, and an electrocatalytically active coating comprising up to 50 mol % of a noble metal oxide or noble metal oxide mixture and at least 50 mol % of titanium oxide. The coating includes a minimum proportion of oxides of anatase structure determined by a ratio of the signal height of the most intensive anatase reflection in an x-ray diffractogram (CuK? radiation) after subtraction of a linear background to the signal height of the most intensive rutile reflection in the same diffractogram, wherein the ratio is at least 0.6.

Abstract: An improved catalyst coating comprising electrocatalytically active components based on ruthenium oxide and titanium oxide, especially for use in chloralkali electrolysis, is described. A production process for the catalyst coating and a novel electrode is also described.

Abstract: Described is a monolithic catalyst system (1) for the cleavage of water into hydrogen and oxygen with the aid of light, comprising a first photoactive material (50) capable by itself or together with one or more auxiliary catalysts when irradiated with light having a wavelength ?420 nm of generating oxygen and protons from water, and a second photoactive material (60) capable by itself or together one or more auxiliary catalysts (92) when irradiated with light having a wavelength ?420 nm of reducing protons in water to hydrogen, the first photoactive material (50) and second photoactive material (60) being in electrical contact via one or more electron-conducting materials (30, 20, 40, 60a) the system being in that characterized in that a load or an electric consumer is interposed in between at least one electron-conducting material. Likewise described is a method of generating oxygen, hydrogen and electricity from water using the catalyst system.

Abstract: There is described an open cell porous structure the cells of which are optionally filled with an elastomeric or thermosetting plastic comprising a nanocrystalline metallic or nanocrystalline metal matrix composite coating wherein the nanocrystals have a crystallite size of from about 5 nm to about 150 nm. A process for preparing the coated open cell porous structures is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode comprising an electrically conductive substrate and a catalytically active layer, wherein the catalytically active layer is based on two catalytically active components and comprises iridium, ruthenium or titanium as metal oxide or mixed oxide or mixtures of the oxides, wherein the total content of ruthenium and/or iridium based on the sum of the elements iridium, ruthenium and titanium is at least 10 mol %, and wherein the electrode comprises at least one oxidic base layer which is applied to the electrically conductive substrate and is impermeable to aqueous electrolytes comprising NaCl and/or NaOH and/or HCl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode that includes an electrically conducting substrate based on a valve metal having a main proportion of titanium, tantalum or niobium, and an electrocatalytically active coating comprising up to 50 mol % of a noble metal oxide or noble metal oxide mixture and at least 50 mol % of titanium oxide. The coating includes a minimum proportion of oxides of anatase structure determined by a ratio of the signal height of the most intensive anatase reflection in an x-ray diffractogram (CuK? radiation) after subtraction of a linear background to the signal height of the most intensive rutile reflection in the same diffractogram, wherein the ratio is at least 0.6.

Abstract: A method of producing a ultrahydrophobic substrate provided on its surface with metallic nanoparticles comprising the steps of furnishing a ultrahydrophobic substrate, applying a precursor layer on said substrate with deposition of metallic nanoparticles from the precursor layer on the substrate. The precursor layer is preferably free of electronic conductive particles and the particles are preferably deposited electrochemically from the precursor layer.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and an apparatus for the electrochemical deposition of fine catalyst particles onto carbon fibre-containing substrates which have a compensating layer (“microlayer”). The method comprises the preparation of a precursor suspension containing ionomer, carbon black and metal ions. This suspension is applied to the substrate and then dried. The deposition of the catalyst particles onto the carbon fibre-containing substrate is effected by a pulsed electrochemical method in an aqueous electrolyte. The noble metal-containing catalyst particles produced by the method have particle sizes in the nanometer range. The catalyst-coated substrates are used for the production of electrodes, gas diffusion electrodes and membrane electrode units for electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells (membrane fuel cells, PEMFC, DMFC, etc.), electrolysers or electrochemical sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for deposition of a catalyst, in particular a method for coating a membrane electrode unit (MEA) for a fuel cell. Said method requires no external electrical field as usual for conventional galvanic techniques. The support for the catalytic layer is first capacitively charged (pseudocapacitance). When brought into contact with an electrolyte solution, comprising the catalyst in the form of dissolved metal salt ions, an in-situ reduction (deposition) of the metal salt ions to give metallic catalyst occurs at the site of contact.

Abstract: A process for the production of amorphous, crystalline, or mixed oxides of metals having mean particle diameters of 1 to 500 nm, by providing an electrolysis cell having a cathode in a cathode half-cell and an anode in an anode half cell, providing in the electrolysis cell a solution comprising ions of a metal or metals from which the oxide particles are to be formed dissolved in an organic electrolyte, and electrochemically reducing the metal ions at the cathode in the presence of an oxidizing agent while impeding or preventing passage of halogens from the anode half cell to the cathode half cell, to form the oxide or oxides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for deposition of a catalyst, in particular a method for coating a membrane electrode unit (MEA) for a fuel cell. Said method requires no external electrical field as usual for conventional galvanic techniques. The support for the catalytic layer is first capacitively charged (pseudocapacitance). When brought into contact with an electrolyte solution, comprising the catalyst in the form of dissolved metal salt ions, an in-situ reduction (deposition) of the metal salt ions to give metallic catalyst occurs at the site of contact.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for electrochemically depositing a catalyst, especially a noble metal, from a precursor layer which is present on a membrane and in which the catalyst material is present in the form of salts that are soluble in the membrane material. According to the method, the membrane is surrounded by an atmosphere containing water vapour during the deposition process, this atmosphere ensuring the stability and ionic conductibility of the membrane. In contrast to methods used up until now, this prevents the soluble catalyst salt from being dissolved out the precursor layer. The method can be carried out in a simple device comprising a sealable vessel which can be advantageously tempered, a holder for receiving a membrane/precursor unit, a gas supply and electrical contacts.

Abstract: Amorphous and/or crystalline oxides of metals of the third to fifth main group or subgroups of the periodic table are obtained in particulate form by an electrochemical process. The process is characterized in that ions of the metal dissolved in an organic electrolyte are electrochemically reduced on a cathode in the presence of an oxidizing agent.