Metallized conducting polymer-grafted carbon material and method for making

• US 20040144961A1
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HSBC Bank USA National Association (HSBC Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: HSBC Bank USA National Association (HSBC Holdings plc)
• Inventors: Srinivas, Bollepalli
• Granted Patent: US 7,195,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/500
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/90 Selection of catalytic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9016 Oxides, hydroxides or oxygenated metallic salts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/92 Metals of platinum group H01M4/94 , H01M4/9058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/926 on carbon or graphite
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0213 Gas-impermeable carbon-containing materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0234 Carbonaceous material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A composition comprising particulate carbonaceous material and a conducting polymer containing hetero atoms. The composition can further comprise a metal. Devices comprising the composition can be constructed including supported electrocatalysts, membrane electrode assemblies, and fuel cells. A method for preparing the composition comprises oxidatively polymerizing a monomer of a conducting polymer containing hetero atoms in the presence of a carbonaceous material wherein the oxidative polymerization takes place in the presence of a metal-containing oxidizing agent. The method grafts the conducting polymer to the carbonaceous material while essentially simultaneously metallizing the composition.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a carbon with enhanced electronic conductivity comprising

oxidatively polymerizing monomer of a conducting polymer containing hetero atoms with particulate carbonaceous material to form a conducting polymer-grafted carbonaceous material

wherein the oxidative polymerization takes place in the presence of a metal-containing oxidizing agent.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous material is carbon black, graphite, nanocarbons, fullerenes, fullerinic material, finely divided carbon, or mixtures thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous material is carbon black.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the monomer of a conducting polymer is an amino aryl or a nitrogen heterocycle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the metal-containing oxidizing agent is chloroplatinic acid.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxidatively polymerizing comprises adding a metal-containing oxidizing agent to a mixture of the carbonaceous material and a monomer of the conducting polymer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the conducting polymer is polyaniline, polypyrrole, polyfuran, polythiophene, poly(p-phenylene-oxide), poly(p-phenylene-sulfide), substituted conducting polymers, or mixtures thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding a reducing agent.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the reducing agent is formaldehyde, formic acid, sodium borohydride, hydrogen, hydrazine, hydroxylamine, or a mixture of reducing agents.

10. A composition made by the method of claim 1.

12. A device comprising the composition of claim 10.

13. A fuel cell comprising the composition of claim 10.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the device is a fuel cell, battery, or a capacitor.

11. A method for essentially simultaneously polymerizing and grafting monomer of a conducting polymer with carbonaceous material and metallizing the polymer comprising

oxidatively polymerizing monomer of a conducting polymer containing hetero atoms with particulate carbonaceous material to form a conducting polymer-grafted carbonaceous material

wherein the oxidative polymerization takes place in the presence of a metal-containing oxidizing agent.