Abstract: A catalyst support for an electrochemical system includes a high surface area refractory material core structure and boron-doped diamond. The BDD modifies the high surface area refractory material core structure.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is provided which includes an anode; a cathode; a membrane between the anode and the cathode; and a protective layer between the membrane and at least one electrode of the anode and the cathode, the protective layer having a layer of ionomer material containing a catalyst, the layer having a porosity of between 0 and 10%, an ionomer content of between 50 and 80% vol., a catalyst content of between 10 and 50% vol., and an electrical connectivity between catalyst particles of between 35 and 75%. A configuration using a precipitation layer to prevent migration of catalyst ions is also provided.

Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst support includes a fluoride-doped metal oxide/phosphate support structure and a catalyst layer, supported on such fluoride-doped support structure. In one example, the support structure is a sub-stechiometric titanium oxide and/or indium-tin oxide (ITO) partially coated or mixed with a fluoride-doped metal oxide or metal phosphate. In another example, the support structure is fluoride-doped and mixed with at least one of low surface carbon, boron-doped diamond, carbides, borides, and silicides.

Abstract: A catalytic nanoparticle includes a porous, hollow core and an atomically thin layer of platinum atoms on the core. The core is a porous palladium, palladium-M or platinum-M core, where M is selected from the group consisting of gold, iridium, osmium, palladium, rhenium, rhodium and ruthenium.

Abstract: An example of a stable electrode structure is to use a gradient electrode that employs large platinum particle catalyst in the close proximity to the membrane supported on conventional carbon and small platinum particles in the section of the electrode closer to a GDL supported on a stabilized carbon. Some electrode parameters that contribute to electrode performance stability and reduced change in ECA are platinum-to-carbon ratio, size of platinum particles in various parts of the electrode, use of other stable catalysts instead of large particle size platinum (alloy, etc), depth of each gradient sublayer. Another example of a stable electrode structure is to use a mixture of platinum particle sizes on a carbon support, such as using platinum particles that may be 6 nanometers and 3 nanometers. A conductive support is typically one or more of the carbon blacks.

Abstract: An example fuel cell electrode forming method includes covering at least a portion of a copper monolayer with a liquid platinum and replacing the copper monolayer to form a platinum monolayer from the liquid platinum.

Abstract: A supported catalyst includes a plurality of support particles that each include a carbon support and a layer disposed around the carbon support. The layer is selected from a metal carbide, metal oxycarbide, and combinations thereof. A catalytic material is disposed on the layers of the support particles.

Abstract: A catalytic nanoparticle includes a porous, hollow core and an atomically thin layer of platinum atoms on the core. The core is a porous palladium, palladium-M or platinum-M core, where M is selected from the group consisting of gold, iridium, osmium, palladium, rhenium, rhodium and ruthenium.

Abstract: A catalytic nanoparticle includes a porous core and an atomically thin layer of platinum atoms on the core. The core is a porous palladium, palladium-M or platinum-M core, where M is selected from the group consisting of gold, iridium, osmium, palladium, rhenium, rhodium and ruthenium.

Abstract: A nanoparticle includes a noble metal skeletal structure. The noble metal skeletal structure is formed as an atomically thin layer of noble metal atoms that has a hollow center.

Abstract: A method for treating a supported catalyst includes establishing shell-removal conditions for a supported catalyst that includes nanoparticles of a catalyst material on a carbon support. The nanoparticles each include a platinum alloy core capped in an organic shell. The shell-removal conditions include an elevated temperature and an inert gas atmosphere that is substantially free of oxygen. The organic shell is then removed from the platinum alloy core in the shell-removal conditions.

Abstract: A supported catalyst is prepared by a process that includes establishing shell-removal conditions for a supported catalyst intermediate that includes capped nanoparticles of a catalyst material dispersed on a carbon support. The capped nanoparticles each include a platinum alloy core capped in an organic shell. The shell-removal conditions include an elevated temperature and an inert gas atmosphere that is substantially free of oxygen. The organic shell is removed from the platinum alloy core under the shell-removal conditions to limit thermal decomposition of the carbon support and thereby limit agglomeration of the catalyst material such that the supported catalyst includes an electrochemical surface area of at least 30 m2/g Pt.

Abstract: A catalyst support for an electrochemical system includes a high surface area carbon core structure and a surface modifier modifying the surface of the carbon core structure. The surface modifier includes boron-doped diamond (BDD) and a high surface area refractory material. The high surface area refractory material includes metal oxides, metal phosphates, metal borides, metal nitrides, metal silicides, metal carbides and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of forming a supported catalyst for a fuel cell includes depositing platinum onto a carbon support material, depositing a first alloy metal onto the carbon support material following the deposition of the platinum, and depositing a second alloy metal onto the carbon support material following the deposition of the first alloy metal. The first alloy metal is selected from iridium, rhodium, palladium, and combinations thereof, and the second alloy metal includes a first or second row transition metal.

Abstract: A catalyst support for an electrochemical system includes a high surface area refractory material core structure and boron-doped diamond. The BDD modifies the high surface area refractory material core structure.

Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst support includes a fluoride-doped metal oxide/phosphate support structure and a catalyst layer, supported on such fluoride-doped support structure. In one example, the support structure is a sub-stechiometric titanium oxide and/or indium-tin oxide (ITO) partially coated or mixed with a fluoride-doped metal oxide or metal phosphate. In another example, the support structure is fluoride-doped and mixed with at least one of low surface carbon, boron-doped diamond, carbides, borides, and silicides.

Abstract: A fuel cell catalyst support includes a support structure having a metal oxide and/or a metal phosphate coated with a layer of boron carbide. Example metal oxides include titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, tungsten oxide, tantalum oxide, niobium oxide and oxides of yttrium, molybdenum, indium, and tin and their phosphates. A boron carbide layer is arranged on the support structure by a chemical or mechanical process, for example. Finally, a catalyst layer is deposited on the boron carbide layer.

Abstract: An ion exchange membrane (52) for a fuel cell comprises a polymer having an acid functional group normally including protons, and having alkali metal ions partially ion-exchanged with the protons of the acid functional group of the membrane. The partial ion exchange of alkali metal ions into the membrane relates either to patterning of the exchanged ion make-up of the membrane, with some being ion exchanged and some not, or to the extent or concentration of the ion exchange in any particular location, or to both.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is provided which includes an anode; a cathode; a membrane between the anode and the cathode; and a protective layer between the membrane and at least one electrode of the anode and the cathode, the protective layer having a layer of ionomer material containing a catalyst, the layer having a porosity of between 0 and 10%, an ionomer content of between 50 and 80% vol., a catalyst content of between 10 and 50% vol., and an electrical connectivity between catalyst particles of between 35 and 75%. A configuration using a precipitation layer to prevent migration of catalyst ions is also provided.