Including Nickel, Iron, Or Cobalt Catalyst Patents (Class 429/527)
  • Patent number: 11421333
    Abstract: Electrodes for catalyzing electrochemical reactions (e.g., the hydrogen evolution reaction) are provided. The electrode may comprise a ternary pyrite-phase transition metal phosphochalcogenide (e.g., CoPS) disposed on a substrate, wherein the ternary pyrite-phase transition metal phosphochalcogenide is a solid material of a ternary compound of a transition metal, phosphorous (P), and a chalcogen, the solid material characterized by a substantially single, ternary alloy phase having a pyrite crystal structure. Methods of using and making the electrodes are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventors: Song Jin, Miguel Cabán-Acevedo, Michael L. Stone
  • Patent number: 11283093
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for manufacturing an electrode, an electrode manufactured thereby, a membrane-electrode assembly including the electrode, and a fuel cell containing the membrane-electrode assembly. The method includes the steps of: preparing an electrode forming composition by mixing a catalyst with an ionomer; applying a low-frequency acoustic energy to the electrode forming composition to perform resonant vibratory mixing so as to coat the ionomer on the surface of the catalyst; and coating the electrode forming composition to manufacture an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventors: Jung Ho Kim, Hyeong Su Kim
  • Patent number: 10497929
    Abstract: An anode for a secondary battery in which Sn metal powder particles function as a conductive material in combination with a carbonaceous conductive material, and a secondary battery including the anode and having improved electroconductivity are provided. The secondary battery including the anode has improved electroconductivity and reduced resistance, and thus can show excellent output performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Uk Lee, Ji-Woo Kim, Min-Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 10490825
    Abstract: Methods for producing non-platinum group metal electrocatalysts effective for the reduction of oxygen in fuel cells and other electrochemical reactions and electrocatalysts as may be produced by these methods are described. The electrocatalysts can be formed according to low to medium temperature formation methods and may be particularly attractive for use in low-temperature fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Hector R. Colon-Mercado, Mark C. Elvington
  • Patent number: 10147936
    Abstract: A nanoporous tin is disclose, along with a method of fabrication thereof, the tin having a hierarchical nanoporous and mesoporous ligament morphology that exhibits long-term cyclability, particularly when used as anode material in Li-ion. One embodiment of the present technology is a fabrication method to directly produce nanoporous tin in powder form, rather than a monolithic piece of nanoporous metal, so that the NP-Sn powder can be directly integrated into composite electrodes using commercial battery electrode processing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Sarah Tolbert, Eric Detsi, John Cook
  • Patent number: 10059602
    Abstract: Process for producing a suspension by precipitation of a solid from a solution, wherein at least two solutions of salts are combined with one another in a stirred vessel so as to form a sparingly soluble solid, where portions of suspension are taken off continuously or discontinuously, the portions taken off in this way are processed in a combination of two separation apparatuses, where gas is separated off in a first separation apparatus which is selected from liquid-gaseous separation apparatuses, and mother liquor is separated off from precipitated sparingly soluble solid in a second separation apparatus selected from solid-liquid separation apparatuses, and the mother liquor is taken off, and the solid which has been separated off or enriched in this way is returned to the reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventor: Simon Schroedle
  • Patent number: 9243337
    Abstract: A multilayer oxygen consuming electrode having a side facing the oxygen-containing gas and a side facing the alkaline electrolyte, wherein the electrode includes at least one support, and at least two layers containing a catalyst and a hydrophobic material, wherein the outermost layer facing the gas side has a lower proportion of catalyst than the outermost layer facing the electrode side and wherein the proportion of hydrophobic material is not more than 8% by weight based on the total amount of the catalyst the hydrophobic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Covestro Duetschland AG
    Inventors: Thomas Turek, Imad Moussallem, Andreas Bulan, Norbert Schmitz, Peter Weuta
  • Publication number: 20150147682
    Abstract: Nitride stabilized metal nanoparticles and methods for their manufacture are disclosed. In one embodiment the metal nanoparticles have a continuous and nonporous noble metal shell with a nitride-stabilized non-noble metal core. The nitride-stabilized core provides a stabilizing effect under high oxidizing conditions suppressing the noble metal dissolution during potential cycling. The nitride stabilized nanoparticles may be fabricated by a process in which a core is coated with a shell layer that encapsulates the entire core. Introduction of nitrogen into the core by annealing produces metal nitride(s) that are less susceptible to dissolution during potential cycling under high oxidizing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Kurian Abraham Kuttiyiel, Kotaro Sasaki, Radoslav R. Adzic
  • Patent number: 8993472
    Abstract: Layered catalyst structures for fuel cells, particularly for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), are produced by a reactive spray deposition technology process. The catalyst layers so produced contain particles sized between 1 and 15 nm and clusters of such particles of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of platinum, platinum alloys with transition metals, mixtures thereof and non-noble metals. The catalyst layers without an electrically conducting supporting medium exhibit dendritic microstructure, providing high electrochemically active surface area and electron conductivity at ultra-low catalyst loading. The catalyst layers deposited on an electrically conducting medium, such as carbon, exhibit three-dimensional functional grading, which provides efficient utilization as a catalyst, high PEMFC performance at the low catalyst loading, and minimized limitations caused by reactant diffusion and activation. The catalytic layers may be produced by a single-run deposition method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Justin Roller, Radenka Maric, Khalid Fatih, Roberto Neagu
  • Publication number: 20150086902
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: JOHNSON MATTHEY FUEL CELLS LIMITED
    Inventors: Graham Alan Hards, Ian Roy Harkness, Michael Ian Petch, Jonathan David Brereton Sharman, Edward Anthony Wright, Alexander Martin Willcocks
  • Patent number: 8974986
    Abstract: A method for producing metal-supported carbon includes supporting metal microparticles on the surface of carbon black, by a liquid-phase reduction method, in a thin film fluid formed between processing surfaces arranged to be opposite to each other so as to be able to approach to and separate from each other, at least one of which rotates relative to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: M. Technique Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Enomura
  • Publication number: 20150064607
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode catalyst for a hydrocarbon-fueled solid oxide fuel cell. The electrode catalyst includes ceria supports and iridium-nickel alloy nanoparticles dispersed on the surfaces of the ceria supports. The electrode catalyst can be inhibited from carbon deposition, a general phenomenon in conventional hydrocarbon-fueled solid oxide fuel cells. Therefore, the catalytic activity of the electrode catalyst can be maintained even at high temperature for a long period of time. In addition, the electrode catalyst contains a minimum amount of a platinum group metal for inhibiting the occurrence of carbon deposition and has a maximized surface area. Therefore, the electrode catalyst exhibits improved catalytic activity and can be produced at greatly reduced cost while suppressing the occurrence of carbon deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kiyong AHN, Young-Hoon KIM, Soo-young CHO, Kyung Joong YOON, Byung Kook KIM, Hae-Weon LEE, Jong Ho LEE, Hyoungchul KIM
  • Patent number: 8968967
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Belabbes Merzougui, Minhua Shao, Lesia V. Protsailo
  • Publication number: 20150056536
    Abstract: A method of preparing a nitrogen containing electrode catalyst by converting a high surface area metal-organic framework (MOF) material free of platinum group metals that includes a transition metal, an organic ligand, and an organic solvent via a high temperature thermal treatment to form catalytic active sites in the MOF. At least a portion of the contained organic solvent may be replaced with a nitrogen containing organic solvent or an organometallic compound or a transition metal salt to enhance catalytic performance. The electrode catalysts may be used in various electrochemical systems, including a proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Di-Jia Liu, Shengqian Ma, Gabriel A. Goenaga
  • Publication number: 20150050583
    Abstract: The present invention refers to highly sinter-stable metal nanoparticles supported on mesoporous graphitic spheres, the so obtained metal-loaded mesoporous graphitic particles, processes for their preparation and the use thereof as catalysts, in particular for high temperature reactions in reducing atmosphere and cathode side oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: STUDIENGESELLSCHAFT KOHLE MBH
    Inventors: Ferdi Schüth, Diana Carolina Galeano Nunez, Hans-Josef Bongard, Karl Mayrhofer, Josef C. Meier, Claudio Baldizzone, Stefano Mezzavilla
  • Patent number: 8956771
    Abstract: An electrode catalyst for fuel cell, a method of preparing the electrode catalyst, a membrane electrode assembly including the electrode catalyst, and a fuel cell including the membrane electrode assembly. The electrode catalyst includes a crystalline catalyst particle incorporating a precious metal having oxygen reduction activity and a Group 13 element, where the Group 13 element is present in a unit lattice of the crystalline catalyst particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kang-hee Lee, Chan-ho Pak, Dae-jong Yoo, Seon-ah Jin
  • Publication number: 20150044594
    Abstract: A catalyst-layer-supporting substrate comprising a substrate supporting a catalyst layer; wherein the catalyst layer comprises two or more porous catalyst metal particle layers that are superposed alternately with (i) two or more intersticed layers comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Sn, Al, and Cu; or (ii) two or more fibrous carbon layers having interstices among fibers of the fibrous carbon. A method for forming a catalyst-layer-supporting structure that comprises porous catalyst metal particle by removing a pore-forming metal from a mixture layer containing a pore-forming metal and a catalyst metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Mei WU, Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yoshihiko Nakano
  • Publication number: 20150044595
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to suppress flooding phenomenon in an electrode catalyst for fuel cells containing a metal atom, a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom and an oxygen atom. A production process of an electrode catalyst for fuel cells is provided which includes a fluorination step of bringing a catalyst body into contact with fluorine, the catalyst body having an atom of at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of zinc, titanium, niobium, zirconium, aluminum, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, strontium, yttrium, tin, tungsten, cerium, samarium and lanthanum, a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom and an oxygen atom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Ryuji Monden, Takuya Imai, Yuji Ito, Kunchan Lee, Takashi Sato
  • Patent number: 8951696
    Abstract: A fuel electrode catalyst for fuel cell excellent in CO poisoning resistance, an electrode/membrane assembly using the fuel electrode catalyst for fuel cell, and a fuel cell and a fuel cell system including the electrode/membrane assembly are provided. The fuel electrode catalyst for fuel cell comprises a platinum-ruthenium first alloy catalyst and a second alloy catalyst obtained by partially substituting ruthenium of the platinum-ruthenium first alloy catalyst by a metal lower dissolving potential than ruthenium. The electrode/membrane assembly 7 comprises three layers of a second alloy catalyst layer 3, a first alloy catalyst layer 4, and a ruthenium catalyst layer 5 arranged in this order from a polymer electrolytic membrane 1 side toward a gas diffusion layer 13 side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kadoma, Kouji Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8945789
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) including a porous fuel electrode which allows reaction of a fuel gas to proceed and which is formed of Ni and YSZ, a porous air electrode which allows reaction of an oxygen-containing gas to proceed, and a dense solid electrolyte membrane which is provided between the fuel electrode and the air electrode and which has an interface with the fuel electrode. In the fuel electrode, Ni grains present in a region located within 3 ?m from the interface (i.e., a “near-interface region”) have a mean size of 0.28 to 0.80 ?m, YSZ grains present in the near-interface region have a mean size of 0.28 to 0.80 ?m, and pores present in the near-interface region have a mean size of 0.10 to 0.87 ?m. Thus, the fuel electrode of the SOFC exhibits low reaction resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayano Kobayashi, Makoto Ohmori
  • Publication number: 20150030954
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a redox flow secondary battery. The redox flow secondary battery of the present invention comprises a unit cell including a pair of electrodes made of a porous metal, wherein the surface of the porous metal is coated with carbon. According to the present invention, a redox flow secondary battery using porous metal electrodes uniformly coated with carbon is provided, thus improving conductivity of the electrodes, and the electrodes have surfaces uniformly coated with a carbon layer having a wide specific surface area, thus improving reactivity. As a result, capacity of the redox flow secondary battery and energy efficiency can be improved and resistance of a cell can be effectively reduced. Further, the electrodes are uniformly coated with a carbon layer, thus also improving corrosion resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Youngjun Kim, Kijae Kim, Minsik Park, Jeahun Kim
  • Patent number: 8940459
    Abstract: An alkaline fuel cell electrode catalyst includes a first catalyst particle that contains at least one of iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni), a second catalyst particle that contains at least one of platinum (Pt) and ruthenium (Ru), and a carrier for supporting the first catalyst particle and the second catalyst particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruyuki Nakanishi, Yusuke Kuzushima
  • Publication number: 20150017555
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of mesoporous graphitic particles having a loading of sintering-stable metal nanoparticles for fuel cells and further electrochemical applications, for example as constituent of layers in electrodes of fuel cells and batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: STUDIENGESELLSCHAFT KOHLE MBH
    Inventors: Ferdi Schüth, Diana Carolina Galeano Nunez, Hans-Josef Bongard, Stefano Mezzavilla, Karl J. Mayrhofer, Josef C. Meier, Claudio Baldizzone, Jean-Francois Drillet, Sakthivel Mariappan, Tadios Tesfu, Volker Peinecke
  • Patent number: 8906580
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein present a method for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication in fuel cells utilizing de-alloyed nanoparticle membranes as electrodes. A method for fabrication of a fuel cell electrode assembly, comprising: preparing a catalyst coated membrane, forming a membrane electrode assembly, assembling a fuel cell, and de-alloying the membrane electrode assembly. Further disclosed is a fuel cell apparatus, comprising a de-alloyed catalyst and a cathode comprising, a first membrane electrode assembly, wherein the de-alloyed catalyst is coated on the membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Peter Strasser, Prasanna Mani, Ratndeep Srivastava
  • Publication number: 20140349212
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an oxygen reduction catalyst comprising composite particles in which primary particles of a titanium compound is dispersed into a carbon structure, wherein the composite particles have titanium, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen as constituent elements, and with regard to a ratio of number of atoms of each of the elements when titanium is taken as 1, a ratio of carbon is larger than 2 and 5 or less, a ratio of nitrogen is larger than 0 and 1 or less, and a ratio of oxygen is 1 or more and 3 or less, and an intensity ratio (D/G ratio) of D band peak intensity to G band peak intensity in a Raman spectrum is in the range of 0.4 to 1.0. The oxygen reduction catalyst according to the present invention has satisfactory initial performance and excellent start-stop durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Noriyasu Tezuka, Masaki Horikita, Masayuki Yoshimura, Yuji Ito, Takashi Sato
  • Patent number: 8895206
    Abstract: A porous metal that comprises platinum and has a specific surface area that is greater than 5 m2/g and less than 75 m2/g. A fuel cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and an electrolyte arranged between the first and the second electrodes. At least one of the first and second electrodes is coated with a porous metal catalyst for oxygen reduction, and the porous metal catalyst comprises platinum and has a specific surface area that is greater than 5 m2/g and less than 75 m2/g. A method of producing a porous metal according to an embodiment of the current invention includes producing an alloy consisting essentially of platinum and nickel according to the formula PtxNi1-x, where x is at least 0.01 and less than 0.3; and dealloying the alloy in a substantially pH neutral solution to reduce an amount of nickel in the alloy to produce the porous metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Jonah D. Erlebacher, Joshua D. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20140342269
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing an anode core-shell complex for a solid oxide fuel cell, including (A) manufacturing a stabilized zirconia (YSZ) sol by using zirconium hydroxide (Zr(OH)4) and yttrium nitrate (Y(NO3)3.6H2O) as a starting material and distilled water as a solvent by a hydrothermal method, (B) agitating nickel chloride, stabilized zirconia in a sol state, and a surfactant, (C) adding sodium hydroxide (NaOH), (D) adjusting a pH to a range of 6 to 8, and (E) sintering the nickel-stabilized zirconia core-shell powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF CERAMIC ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Byung Hyun CHOI, Mi Jung JI, Min Jin LEE, Sun Ki HONG, Young Jin KANG
  • Publication number: 20140335442
    Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing nickel-aluminum alloy powder at low temperature, which is simple and economical and is capable of solving the reactor corrosion problem. The method for preparing nickel-aluminum alloy powder at low temperature includes: preparing a powder mixture by mixing nickel powder and aluminum powder in a reactor and adding aluminum chloride into the reactor (S1); vacuumizing the inside of the reactor and sealing the reactor (S2); and preparing nickel-aluminum alloy powder by heat-treating the powder mixture in the sealed reactor at low temperature (S3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hyung Chul HAM, Shin Ae Song, Seong Cheol Jang, Yong Min Kim, Jonghee Han, Hyoung-Juhn Kim, Tae Hoon Lim, Suk Woo Nam, Sung Pil Yoon, Chang Won Yoon, Yeong Cheon Kim
  • Publication number: 20140333264
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to electrodes and implementations such as batteries. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a nanocarbon substrate having at least one of graphene and carbon nanotubes, and a hybrid electrode including a cobalt oxide/carbon nanotube (CoO/CNT) catalyst and a Ni—Fe-layered double hydride (LDH) catalyst. The catalysts and substrate facilitate transfer of charge carriers. Various aspects are directed to a battery type device having an anode and a single or split cathode with the respective catalysts on the cathode to facilitate oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions for discharging and charging the battery type device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventor: Hongjie Dai
  • Patent number: 8871672
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a core-shell type platinum-containing catalyst is allowed to reduce the amount of used platinum and has high catalytic activity and stability. In one example embodiment, the core-shell type platinum-containing catalyst includes a core particle (with an average particle diameter R1) made of a non-platinum element and a platinum shell layer (with an average thickness ts) satisfying 1.4 nm?R1?3.5 nm and 0.25 nm?ts?0.9 nm. The core particle includes an element satisfying Eout?3.0 eV, where average binding energy relative to the Fermi level of 5d orbital electrons of platinum present on an outermost surface of the shell layer is Eout. In a fuel cell including a platinum-containing catalyst which contains a Ru particle as a core particle, the output density at a current density of 300 mA/cm2 is 70 mW/cm2 or over, and an output retention ratio is approximately 90% or over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Goto, Shizuka Hosoi, Yuli Li, Yoshihiro Kudo, Akihiro Maesaka
  • Patent number: 8864852
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the fabrication of thin aluminum anode batteries using a highly reproducible process that enables high volume manufacturing of the galvanic cells. A method of fabricating a thin aluminum anode galvanic cell is provided, the method including, depositing a layer of catalytic metal on a surface of a first substrate, depositing and patterning a benzocyclobutene layer to form a reservoir having four sidewalls of benzocyclobutene on the surface of the catalytic layer, depositing a layer of aluminum on a surface of a second substrate and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate to form a galvanic cell bounded by the catalytic metal layer and the aluminum layer and separated by the reservoir walls of benzocyclobutene, the second substrate positioned in overlying relation to contact the four sidewalls of the reservoir with the aluminum layer facing the catalytic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Andres M. Cardenas-Valencia, Jay Dlutowski, Melynda C. Calves, John Bumgarner, Larry Langebrake
  • Publication number: 20140308594
    Abstract: A cathode for a metal air battery includes a cathode structure having pores. The cathode structure has a metal side and an air side. The porosity decreases from the air side to the metal side. A metal air battery and a method of making a cathode for a metal air battery are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Nancy J. DUDNEY, James W. KLETT, Jagjit NANDA, Chaitanya Kumar NARULA, Sreekanth PANNALA
  • Publication number: 20140272672
    Abstract: In some examples, a fuel cell comprising a cathode; an electrolyte; and an anode separated from the cathode by the electrolyte. The active, as-reduced anode includes Ni, La, Sr, Mn, and O, where the reduced anode includes a Ni phase constitution and a (La1-xSrx)n+1MnnO3n+1 compound having a Mn-based Ruddlesden-Popper (R-P) phase constitution, wherein n is greater than zero, and wherein the anode, cathode, and electrolyte are configured to form an electrochemical cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Richard W. Goettler, Shung-Ik Lee, Zhien Liu
  • Patent number: 8808912
    Abstract: A lithium-metal-oxide positive electrode having a layered or spinel structure for a non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cell and battery is disclosed comprising electrode particles that are protected at the surface from undesirable effects, such as electrolyte oxidation, oxygen loss or dissolution by one or more lithium-metal-polyanionic compounds, such as a lithium-metal-phosphate or a lithium-metal-silicate material that can act as a solid electrolyte at or above the operating potential of the lithium-metal-oxide electrode. The surface protection significantly enhances the surface stability, rate capability and cycling stability of the lithium-metal-oxide electrodes, particularly when charged to high potentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Uchicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, Sun-Ho Kang
  • Publication number: 20140220479
    Abstract: Provided are nanocomposites including an iron-based composite core and a carbon shell, and methods of making and using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: UWM Research Foundation
    Inventors: Junhong Chen, Zhenhai Wen
  • Patent number: 8791043
    Abstract: An ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) composite catalyst includes an OMC; and metal particles and at least one component selected from a group consisting of nitrogen and sulfur included in the OMC. The ordered mesoporous carbon composite catalyst may be formed by impregnating an ordered mesoporous silica with a mixture of at least one selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing carbon precursor, and a sulfur-containing carbon precursor, a metal precursor, and a solvent; drying and heat-treating the impregnated OMS; carbonizing the dried and heat-treated OMS to obtain a carbon-OMS composite; and removing the OMS from the carbon-OMS composite. A fuel cell may contain the OMC composite catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chan-ho Pak, Hyuk Chang, Ji-man Kim, Jeong-kuk Shon
  • Publication number: 20140199609
    Abstract: Provided is an electrocatalyst for solid polymer fuel cells capable of increasing the active surface area for reactions in a catalyst component, increasing the utilization efficiency of the catalyst, and reducing the amount of expensive precious metal catalyst used. Also provided are a membrane electrode assembly that uses this electrocatalyst and a solid polymer fuel cell. An electrocatalyst for a solid polymer fuel cell is provided with a catalyst and solid proton conducting material. A liquid conductive material retention part that retains a liquid proton conducting material that connects the catalyst and solid proton conducting material is provided between the same. The surface area of the catalyst exposed within the liquid conductive material retention part is larger than the surface area of the catalyst in contact with the solid proton conducting material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iden, Atsushi Ohma, Kei Sakai, Kazuyuki Satou, Yoshitaka Ono, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Ken Akizuki
  • Patent number: 8778561
    Abstract: An electrocatalytic polymer-based powder has particles of at least one electronically conductive polymer species in which particles are dispersed of at least one catalytic redox species, in which the particles of the polymer species and of the catalytic species are of nanometric dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Raffaele Vecchione, Giuseppe Mensitieri, Anna Borriello
  • Publication number: 20140193747
    Abstract: The performance of an ABx type metal hydride alloy is improved by adding an element to the alloy which element is operative to enhance the surface area morphology of the alloy. The alloy may include surface regions of differing morphologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: OVONIC BATTERY COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Kwo Young, Benjamin Reichman, Michael A. Fetcenko
  • Publication number: 20140178790
    Abstract: A process for producing an oxygen reducing catalyst including a step of heat-treating, in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, a catalyst precursor including a compound (i) supplying a carbon element and a nitrogen element by heating in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, and a compound (ii) containing at least one element of iron and cobalt. Also disclosed is an oxygen reducing catalyst, a fuel cell catalyst layer including the oxygen reducing catalyst, an electrode including the fuel cell catalyst layer, a membrane-electrode assembly including the electrode and a fuel cell including the membrane-electrode assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Kazunori Ichioka, Takuya Imai, Chunfu Yu
  • Patent number: 8758959
    Abstract: The processes include: a layer superposition step in which the step of sputtering or vapor-depositing a mixture layer including a first pore-forming metal and a catalyst metal on a substrate and the step of forming an interlayer of a second pore-forming metal or a fibrous-carbon interlayer are alternately conducted repeatedly two or more times to thereby form a multilayer structure containing mixture layers and interlayers; and a pore formation step in which after the layer superposition step, the multilayer structure is subjected to a pore formation treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Wu Mei, Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Yoshihiko Nakano
  • Publication number: 20140154613
    Abstract: An air electrode catalyst material according to an embodiment of the present invention is used in solid oxide fuel cells and includes a perovskite oxide represented by a general formula (1): AxByO3-6. A ratio x/y of the A to the B is 1.05?x/y?1.5, and a peak derived from a perovskite structure A1B1O3-? is shown in a chart obtained by an X-ray diffraction measurement, and in Raman spectra, an area of absorption peak existing between 560 cm?1 and 620 cm?1 (inclusive) is larger than that between 380 cm?1 and 440 cm?1 (inclusive).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: YASUSHI SATO, TAKAO KUDO, KOICHI YAMAMURO, SHU YAMAGUCHI, SHOGO MIYOSHI, AYANO TAKESHITA
  • Patent number: 8735023
    Abstract: One embodiment includes at least one of the anode and cathode of a fuel cell comprises a first layer and a second layer in intimate contact with each other. Both the first layer and the second layer comprise a catalyst capable of catalyzing an electrochemical reaction of a reactant gas. The second layer has a higher porosity than the first layer. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) based on the layered electrode configuration and a process of making a fuel cell are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anusorn Kongkanand, Eric L. Thompson, Frederick T. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20140141354
    Abstract: A fuel cell electrode including a catalyst layer including: a catalyst; and a conductor storage material having pores with an average diameter of about 5 nm to about 1000 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Jung-ock PARK, Yoon-hoi LEE, Jin-su HA, Suk-gi HONG
  • Publication number: 20140127607
    Abstract: A cathode for a solid oxide fuel cell, the cathode including: a mixed ionic-electronic conductor having a structure in a form of a pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chan KWAK, Doh-won JUNG, Ji-haeng YU, Hee-jung PARK, Sung-jin AHN
  • Patent number: 8715370
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the fabrication of thin aluminum anode batteries using a highly reproducible process that enables high volume manufacturing of the galvanic cells. A method of fabricating a thin aluminum anode galvanic cell is provided, the method comprising, forming a recess in the silicon wafer, the recess having no more than three sidewalls, depositing a catalytic metal layer on a bottom surface of the recess, positioning a double-side sticky tape layer having a bottom side positioned to contact the no more than three sidewalls of the recess and positioning an aluminum foil layer to contact a top side of the double-side sticky tape layer and in overlying relation to the recess, thereby forming the galvanic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Andres M. Cardenas-Valencia, Jay Dlutowski, Melynda C. Calves, John Bumgarner, Larry Langebrake
  • Patent number: 8716168
    Abstract: Electrode catalysts for fuel cells, a method of manufacturing the same, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including the same, and a fuel cell including the MEA are provided. The electrode catalysts include a first catalyst alloy containing palladium (Pd), cobalt (Co), and phosphorus (P), a second catalyst alloy containing palladium (Pd) and phosphorus (P), and a carbon-based support to support the catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-jong Yoo, Kyung-jung Kwon, Chan-ho Pak, Victor Roev, Kang-hee Lee, Seon-ah Jin
  • Publication number: 20140120454
    Abstract: A fuel cell electrode catalyst which includes, at least, M1 that is at least one element selected from 3 to 7 group transition metal elements; M2 that is at least one element selected from iron group elements; M3 that is at least one element selected from 13 group elements; carbon; nitrogen; and oxygen, as constitutional elements, wherein when the atomic ratios of the elements (M1:M2:M3:carbon:nitrogen:oxygen) are represented by a:b:c:x:y:z, 0<a<1, 0<b?0.5, 0<c<1, 0<x?6, 0<y?2, 0<z?3 and a+b+c=1, and BET specific surface area is 100 m2/g or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Akira Takahashi, Masaki Horikita, Takuya Imai, Yasuaki Wakizaka, Takashi Sato
  • Publication number: 20140113218
    Abstract: Catalysts comprising porous metal nanoparticles, which are individually encapsulated with a reaction-enhancing material, and their use in fuel cell catalysis are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jonah Daedalus Erlebacher, Joshua D. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20140106259
    Abstract: A positive electrode composite for a solid oxide fuel cell, on the positive electrode composite including: a porous reaction prevention layer; and a mixed-conductivity material disposed in the porous reaction prevention layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chan KWAK, Hee-jung PARK, Dong-hee YEON, Zongping SHAO, Dengjie CHEN, Fucheng WANG