Catalysts Including Metal Oxide For Organic Fuel Cells

• US 20080014494A1
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tekion
• Original Assignee: Tekion
• Inventors: Iordache, Coca, Huff, Sean, Blair, Sharon, Lycke, Derek
• Application Number:
  US11/776,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20080014494A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8807 Gas diffusion layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8825 Methods for deposition of the catalytic active composition
• 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 8/1009 with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged H01M8/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A catalyst formulation for an organic fuel cell, for example a formic acid fuel cell, includes a metal oxide and a noble metal. The catalyst formulation can include a noble metal supported on a metal oxide. The metal oxide can store and release catalyst poisons at room temperature and therefore reduces the exhaustion of the fuel cell.

Claims

1. A catalyst for a direct formic acid fuel cell comprising a noble metal and a metal oxide.

2. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein the noble metal is supported on the metal oxide.

3. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein the noble metal is at least one of palladium and platinum.

4. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein the metal oxide is at least one of TiO₂, CeO₂, ZrO₂, SnO₂, In₂O₅, Sb₂O₅, alloys thereof, and combinations thereof.

5. A direct organic liquid feed fuel cell comprising:

(a) an anode;

(b) a cathode;

(c) a liquid organic fuel comprising formic acid; and

(d) an anode catalyst, comprising a noble metal and a metal oxide.

6. The fuel cell of claim 5 wherein the noble metal is supported on the metal oxide.

7. The fuel cell of claim 5 wherein the noble metal is at least one of palladium and platinum.

8. The fuel cell of claim 5 wherein the metal oxide is at least one of TiO₂, CeO₂, ZrO₂, SnO₂, In₂O₅, Sb₂O₅, alloys thereof, and combinations thereof.

9. A method of reducing catalyst poisoning in a direct organic liquid feed fuel cell comprising preparing a catalyst comprising a noble metal and a metal oxide.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the noble metal is supported on the metal oxide.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the noble metal is at least one of palladium and platinum.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the metal oxide is at least one of TiO₂, CeO₂, ZrO₂, SnO₂, In₂O₅, Sb₂O₅, alloys thereof, and combinations thereof.

13. A method of preparing an anode catalyst for a direct liquid feed fuel cell comprising:

(a) admixing a noble metal and a metal oxide; and

(b) depositing the admixture on an electrically conductive sheet material to form an anode.