Abstract: A catalyst includes (i) a primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, and (ii) an electrically conductive carbon support material for the primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, wherein the carbon support material (a) has a specific surface area (BET) of 100-600 m2/g, and (b) has a micropore area of 10-60 m2/g. Methods for producing the carbon support material and methods for decreasing the corrosion rate of the carbon support material are also provided.

Abstract: A catalytic material includes (i) a support material and (ii) a thin film catalyst coating having an inner face adjacent to the support material and an outer face, the thin film catalyst coating having a mean thickness of ?8 nm, and wherein at least 40% of the support material surface area is covered by the thin film catalyst coating; and wherein the thin film catalyst coating includes a first metal and one or more second metals, and wherein the atomic percentage of first metal in the thin film catalyst coating is not uniform through the thickness of the thin film catalyst coating.

Abstract: A catalyst includes (i) a primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, and (ii) an electrically conductive carbon support material for the primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, wherein the carbon support material: (a) has a specific surface area (BET) of 100-600 m2/g, and (b) has a micropore area of 10-90 m2/g.

Abstract: A platinum alloy catalyst PtXY, wherein X is a transition metal (other than platinum, palladium or iridium) and Y is a transition metal (other than platinum, palladium or iridium) which is less leachable than X in an acidic environment, has an atomic percentage in the alloy of platinum is from 20.5-40at %, of X is from 40.5-78.5at % X and of Y is from 1-19.5at %.

Abstract: A catalytic material includes (i) a support material and (ii) a thin film catalyst coating having an inner face adjacent to the support material and an outer face, the thin film catalyst coating having a mean thickness of ?8 nm, and wherein at least 40% of the support material surface area is covered by the thin film catalyst coating; and wherein the thin film catalyst coating includes a first metal and one or more second metals, and wherein the atomic percentage of first metal in the thin film catalyst coating is not uniform through the thickness of the thin film catalyst coating.

Abstract: A catalyst includes (i) a primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, and (ii) an electrically conductive carbon support material for the primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, wherein the carbon support material: (a) has a specific surface area (BET) of 100-600 m2/g, and (b) has a micropore area of 10-90 m2/g.

Abstract: A platinum alloy catalyst PtXY, wherein X is a transition metal (other than platinum, palladium or iridium) and Y is a transition metal (other than platinum, palladium or iridium) which is less leachable than X in an acidic environment, has an atomic percentage in the alloy of platinum is from 20.5-40 at %, of X is from 40.5-78.5 at % X and of Y is from 1-19.5 at %.

Abstract: An electrically conducting gas diffusion substrate, capable of removing oxidisable impurities from an impure gas stream, which comprises an electrically conducting porous structure and a first catalytic component, wherein the first catalytic component comprises a first catalyst supported on an electrically non-conducting support is disclosed. In addition, an electrode, a membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell each comprising said electrically conducting gas diffusion substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: An electrically conducting gas diffusion substrate, capable of removing oxidisable impurities from an impure gas stream, which comprises an electrically conducting porous structure and a first catalytic component, wherein the first catalytic component comprises a first catalyst supported on an electrically non-conducting support is disclosed. In addition, an electrode, a membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell each comprising said electrically conducting gas diffusion substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: A novel anode structure for making a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) tolerant to incidences of cell reversal includes an electrocatalyst layer having at least one electrocatalyst and at least one proton conducting polymer. The anode structure also includes one or more water retaining material(s), such as carbon nanofibers, embedded within the electrocatalyst layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly wherein each gas diffusion substrate comprises a porous electrically conductive gasket member is located on the first and second planar faces of a peripheral portion of the sheet material. The electrocatalyst layers are not present adjacent to the gasket members and the edge of the membrane is sandwiched between the gasket members. The invention further relates to integrated cell assemblies and fuel cell stacks comprising membrane electrode assemblies according to the invention.

Abstract: An electrically conducting gas diffusion substrate, capable of removing oxidizable impurities from an impure gas stream, which comprises an electrically conducting porous structure and a first catalytic component, wherein the first catalytic component comprises a first catalyst supported on an electrically non-conducting support is disclosed. In addition, an electrode, a membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell each comprising said electrically conducting gas diffusion substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: A novel proton conducting polymer membrane comprising a series of channels and/or capillaries (2) for use in MEAs and fuel cells is provided. Such a membrane allows a supply of water from an external source to be supplied to said membrane allowing water electrolysis to be maintained during incidences of cell reversal in an MEA or fuel cell comprising said membrane. Methods for the construction of such a membrane are also provided.

Abstract: A fuel cell gas diffusion substrate has primary fibres, secondary fibres and one or more thermoplastic polymers for binding the primary and secondary fibres, characterized in that the secondary fibers are in the form of carbon nanofibers, and a gas diffusion electrode and membrane electrode assembly prepared therefrom are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly wherein each gas diffusion substrate comprises a porous electrically conductive gasket member is located on the first and second planar faces of a peripheral portion of the sheet material. The electrocatalyst layers are not present adjacent to the gasket members and the edge of the membrane is sandwiched between the gasket members. The invention further relates to integrated cell assemblies and fuel cell stacks comprising membrane electrode assemblies according to the invention.

Abstract: A process for preparing a solid polymer electrolyte membrane comprising an ion-conducting polymer, a catalyst and a high surface area support material, which process comprises: (a) associating the catalyst with the support material to form a catalysed support; and (b) combining the catalysed support with an ion-conducting polymer composition; is disclosed.

Abstract: A novel anode structure for making a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) tolerant to incidences of cell reversal, said anode structure comprising an electrocatalyst layer wherein said electrocatalyst layer comprises at least one electrocatalyst and at least one proton conducting polymer, characterised in that one or more water retaining material(s) are embedded within the electrocatalyst layer, and a process for the preparation thereof is disclosed. Also disclosed is a novel electrocatalyst ink for use in the preparation of the novel anode structure.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst ink comprising one or more electrocatalyst metals and one or more proton-conducting polymers, characerised in that the electrocatalyst ink further comprises an electron-conducting fibrous material, and a process for the preparation of said ink is disclosed. The use of the ink in a gas diffusion electrode, particularly for use in PEM fuel cells is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel cell gas diffusion substrate comprising primary fibres, secondary fibres and one or more thermoplastic polymers for binding said primary and secondary fibres, characterised in that said secondary carbon fibres are in the form of carbon nanofibres, and a gas diffusion electrode and membrane electrode assembly prepared therefrom are disclosed.

Abstract: A novel proton conducting polymer membrane comprising a series of channels and/or capillaries (2) for use in MEAs and fuel cells is provided. Such a membrane allows a supply of water from an external source to be supplied to said membrane allowing water electrolysis to be maintained during incidences of cell reversal in an MEA or fuel cell comprising said membrane. Methods for the construction of such a membrane are also provided.