Abstract: Disclosed are catalysts, especially catalytic anodes, useful for catalyzing reactions in fuel cells and in other environments. The catalysts have a substrate base made of iridium and/or ruthenium. There is a very thin coating on the substrate which is a mix of platinum and at least one metal selected from gold, palladium, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, rhenium, and osmium. The anodes are resistant to carbon monoxide adulteration.

Abstract: The present invention provides molybdenum and tungsten nanostructures, for example, nanosheets and nanoparticles, and methods of making and using same, including using such nanostructures as catlysts for hydrogen evolution reactions.

Abstract: Hollow metal nanoparticles and methods for their manufacture are disclosed. In one embodiment the metal nanoparticles have a continuous and nonporous shell with a hollow core which induces surface smoothening and lattice contraction of the shell. In a particular embodiment, the hollow nanoparticles have an external diameter of less than 20 nm, a wall thickness of between 1 nm and 3 nm or, alternatively, a wall thickness of between 4 and 12 atomic layers. In another embodiment, the hollow nanoparticles are fabricated by a process in which a sacrificial core is coated with an ultrathin shell layer that encapsulates the entire core. Removal of the core produces contraction of the shell about the hollow interior. In a particular embodiment the shell is formed by galvanic displacement of core surface atoms while remaining core removal is accomplished by dissolution in acid solution or in an electrolyte during potential cycling between upper and lower applied potentials.

Abstract: A method of depositing contiguous, conformal submonolayer-to-multilayer thin films with atomic-level control is described. The process involves the use of underpotential deposition of a first element to mediate the growth of a second material by overpotential deposition. Deposition occurs between a potential positive to the bulk deposition potential for the mediating element where a full monolayer of mediating element forms, and a potential which is less than, or only slightly greater than, the bulk deposition potential of the material to be deposited. By cycling the applied voltage between the bulk deposition potential for the mediating element and the material to be deposited, repeated desorption/adsorption of the mediating element during each potential cycle can be used to precisely control film growth on a layer-by-layer basis. This process is especially suitable for the formation of a catalytically active layer on core-shell particles for use in energy conversion devices such as fuel cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing metal-coated palladium or palladium-alloy particles. The method includes contacting hydrogen-absorbed palladium or palladium-alloy particles with one or more metal salts to produce a sub-monoatomic or monoatomic metal- or metal-alloy coating on the surface of the hydrogen-absorbed palladium or palladium-alloy particles. The invention also relates to methods for producing catalysts and methods for producing electrical energy using the metal-coated palladium or palladium-alloy particles of the present invention.

Abstract: Binary and ternary electrocatalysts are provided for oxidizing alcohol in a fuel cell. The binary electrocatalyst includes 1) a substrate selected from the group consisting of NiWO4 or CoWO4 or a combination thereof, and 2) Group VIII noble metal catalyst supported on the substrate. The ternary electrocatalyst includes 1) a substrate as described above, and 2) a catalyst comprising Group VIII noble metal, and ruthenium oxide or molybdenum oxide or a combination thereof, said catalyst being supported on said substrate.