Abstract: Compositions and methods for the manufacture of electrodes for fuel cells. The compositions and methods are particularly useful for the manufacture of anodes and cathodes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, particularly direct methanol fuel cells. The methods can utilize direct-write tools to deposit ink compositions and form functional layers of a membrane electrode assembly having controlled properties and enhanced performance.

Abstract: Precursor compositions in the form of a tape that can be transferred to a substrate and converted to an electronic feature at a relatively low temperature, such as not greater than about 200° C. The tape composition can be disposed on a carrier to form a ribbon structure that is flexible and can be handled in a variety of industrial processes.

Abstract: A zirconia-containing composition and processes for synthesizing same. The composition comprises least about 99.9 percent tetragonal phase zirconia, based on the total crystalline zirconia in the zirconia-containing composition as determined by x-ray diffraction (XRD). The composition also has a substantially spherical morphology and comprises less than 100 wppm chlorine, based on the total weight of the zirconia-containing composition. The zirconia-containing composition has an average surface area of at least 80 m2/g and an average particle size of less than about 10 microns.

Abstract: An electrocatalyst ink composition comprising a liquid vehicle, particles comprising at least one electrocatalyst metal, and at least one copolymer dispersant comprising at least one polyalkylene oxide segment.

Abstract: A precursor composition for the deposition and formation of an electrical feature such as a conductive feature. The precursor composition advantageously has a low viscosity enabling deposition using direct-write tools. The precursor composition also has a low conversion temperature, enabling the deposition and conversion to an electrical feature on low temperature substrates. A particularly preferred precursor composition includes silver metal for the formation of highly conductive silver features.

Abstract: A precursor composition for the deposition and formation of an electrical feature such as a conductive feature. The precursor composition advantageously has a low viscosity enabling deposition using direct-write tools. The precursor composition also has a low conversion temperature, enabling the deposition and conversion to an electrical feature on low temperature substrates. A particularly preferred precursor composition includes silver metal for the formation of highly conductive silver features.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the manufacture of electrodes for fuel cells. The compositions and methods are particularly useful for the manufacture of anodes and cathodes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, particularly direct methanol fuel cells. The methods can utilize direct-write tools to deposit ink compositions and form functional layers of a membrane electrode assembly having controlled properties and enhanced performance.

Abstract: A precursor composition for the deposition and formation of an electrical feature such as a conductive feature. The precursor composition advantageously has a low viscosity enabling deposition using direct-write tools. The precursor composition also has a low conversion temperature, enabling the deposition and conversion to an electrical feature on low temperature substrates. A particularly preferred precursor composition includes copper metal for the formation of highly conductive copper features.

Abstract: Materials that are useful for absorption enhanced reforming (AER) of a fuel, including absorbent materials such as Group 1 and Group 2 metal oxides that are adapted to absorb CO2 and catalyst materials such as reforming catalysts and water-gas shift catalysts, and methods for using the materials. The materials can be fabricated by spray processing. The use of the materials in AER can produce a H2 product gas having a high H2 content and a low level of carbon oxides.

Abstract: The invention is directed to high surface area graphitized carbon and to processes for making high surface area graphitized carbon. The process includes steps of graphitizing and increasing the surface area of (in either order) a starting carbon material to form high surface area graphitized carbon. The step of increasing the surface area optionally comprises an oxidizing step (e.g., through steam etching) or template removal from composite particles. The invention is also directed to catalyst particles and electrodes employing catalyst particles that are formed from the high surface area graphitized carbon.

Abstract: Processes for forming catalyst particles utilizing a defoamer are described. Also described are processes for forming catalysts, where the processes comprise providing a correlation between defoamer concentration and catalyst particle morphology, and determining an amount of defoamer to include in a precursor composition to obtain the target morphology based on the correlation.

Abstract: Precursor compositions for the fabrication of electronic features such as resistors and capacitors. The precursor compositions are formulated to have a low conversion temperature, such as not greater than about 350° C., thereby enabling the fabrication of such electronic features on a variety of substrates, including organic substrates such as polymer substrates.

Abstract: Precursor compositions for the deposition of electronic features such as resistors and dielectric components and methods for the deposition of the precursor compositions. The precursor compositions have a low viscosity, such as not greater than about 1000 centipoise and can be deposited using a direct-write tool. The precursors also have a low conversion temperature, enabling the formation of electronic features on a wide variety of substrates, including low temperature substrates.

Abstract: Electrocatalyst powders and methods for producing electrocatalyst powders, such as carbon composite electrocatalyst powders. The powders have a well-controlled microstructure and morphology. The method includes forming the particles from an aerosol of precursors by heating the aerosol to a relatively low temperature, such as not greater than about 400° C.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly comprises (a) a solid electrolyte polymer membrane; (b) an anode electrocatalyst layer disposed at one surface of the membrane and comprising a first electrocatalyst composition comprising carbon substrate particles and nanoparticles comprising an alloy of platinum and ruthenium disposed on the surface of the substrate particles; (c) a cathode electrocatalyst layer disposed at an opposite surface of the membrane, the cathode layer comprising a second electrocatalyst composition different from the first electrocatalyst composition and comprising carbon substrate particles and nanoparticles comprising platinum disposed on the surface of the substrate particles; and (d) gas diffusion layers disposed over each of the anode and cathode electrocatalyst layers.

Abstract: In a method of producing a particulate electrocatalyst composition, a precursor medium comprising at least a first metal precursor, a liquid vehicle, and a substrate precursor to substrate particles is atomized into precursor droplets. The droplets are then heated to a reaction temperature of not greater than 700° C. to form composite particles comprising said first metal at least partly in an oxide form dispersed on said substrate particles. The composite particles are then collected and are heated at a first treatment temperature no greater than 250° C. in the presence of a reducing atmosphere to at least partly convert said oxide form to the metal.

Abstract: A process for the activation of a membrane electrode assembly, such as a direct methanol fuel cell membrane electrode assembly, with a hydrocarbon fuel, e.g., an alkanol fuel such as methanol, and an oxidant is described. The process comprises repeatedly applying an increasing or decreasing potential in each of a plurality of cycles over a voltage range of at least 0.1 volts, e.g., at least 0.2 volts or at least 0.3 volts, until the membrane electrode assembly is substantially activated. The cycles optionally are organized in cycle sets with rest periods therebetween. The temperature at which the cycles are run optionally is increased or decreased in a respective cycle set.

Abstract: The invention is directed to highly porous catalyst coated membranes and to sprayable inks and processes for forming catalyst coated membranes. In one aspect, the invention is to a sprayable ink, comprising catalyst particles, polymer electolyte ionomer, and a vehicle for dispersing the catalyst particles and polymer electolyte ionomer. In another aspect, the process comprises the steps of depositing an ink comprising catalyst particles and a vehicle onto a membrane and vaporizing from 40 to 95 weight percent of the vehicle from the sprayed ink under conditions effective to form a catalyst layer on the membrane. Preferably, the depositing and vaporizing steps are alternated to form multiple stacked catalyst layers on the membrane.

Abstract: Materials that are useful for absorption enhanced reforming (AER) of a fuel, including absorbent materials and catalyst materials and methods for using the materials. The materials can be fabricated by spray processing. The use of the materials in AER can produce a H2 product gas having a high H2 content and a low level of carbon oxides.

Abstract: Electrocatalyst powders and methods for producing electrocatalyst powders, such as carbon composite electrocatalyst powders. The powders have a well-controlled microstructure and morphology. The method includes forming the particles from an aerosol of precursors by heating the aerosol to a relatively low temperature, such as not greater than about 400° C.