Methods for production of metals on carbon nitride powders and composites and their use as catalysts in fuel cell electrochemistry

• US 20070254206A1
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
• Inventors: Leddy, Johna, Dunwoody, Drew, Gillan, Edward, Miller, Dale
• Application Number:
  US11/654,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20070254206A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/494
• 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 4/9075 Catalytic material supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers H01M4/8807, H01M4/881, H01M4/8814, H01M4/925 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/921 Alloys or mixtures with metallic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/925 supported on carriers, e.g. powder carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Improved supported catalyst compositions including metalated carbon nitrides and methods of preparation are disclosed.

Claims

1. A supported catalyst comprising metalated carbon nitride.

2. The supported catalyst of claim 1, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of platinum, nickel, silver, cobalt, vanadium, ruthenium, iron, manganese, and copper.

3. The supported catalyst of claim 2, wherein the metal is platinum.

4. The supported catalyst of claim 1, wherein the metalated carbon nitride is metalated with two metals.

5. The supported catalyst of claim 4, wherein the metals are cobalt and iron.

6. The supported catalyst of claim 4, wherein the metals are platinum and ruthenium.

7. The supported catalyst of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the carbon nitride is bonded to carbon cloth.

8. The supported catalyst of claim 1, further comprising carbon black.

9. The supported catalyst of claim 2, wherein the carbon black is present in an amount that is 25% to 75% by weight.

10. The supported catalyst of claim 1, wherein the carbon black is VULCAN®

XC-72 carbon black.

11. A method for producing a supported catalyst comprising metalating carbon nitride.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of platinum, nickel, silver, cobalt, vanadium, ruthenium, iron, manganese, and copper.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises metalating the carbon nitride in the presence of methanol.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises treating the carbon nitride with a strong organic base prior to metalating the carbon nitride.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the strong organic base is pyridine.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising modifying one or more functional groups on the carbon nitride prior to metalating.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more functional groups on the carbon nitride is modified with an organochloride.

18. A fuel cell comprising a metalated carbon nitride catalyst.

19. The fuel cell of claim 18, wherein the carbon nitride catalyst is located on at least one electrode.

20. The fuel cell of claim 19, wherein the at least one electrode is coated with a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer.