NON-PLATINUM GROUP METAL ELECTROCATALYSTS USING METAL ORGANIC FRAMEWORK MATERIALS AND METHOD OF PREPARATION
First Claim
1. A method of preparing a high surface area electrode catalyst free of platinum group metals (PGM) for use in a fuel cell, comprising:
- mixing a metal oxide, organic ligand, and transition metal complex;
applying a first heat treatment sufficient to melt the organic ligand;
reacting the organic ligand with the metal oxide to form a metal organic framework (“
MOF”
);
interacting the transition metal with the MOF;
applying a second heat treatment, converting organic components of the MOF to a carbonaceous material; and
forming a catalytically active site by reacting the transition metal with nitrogen containing moieties.
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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 an alkaline fuel cell.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of preparing a high surface area electrode catalyst free of platinum group metals (PGM) for use in a fuel cell, comprising:
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mixing a metal oxide, organic ligand, and transition metal complex; applying a first heat treatment sufficient to melt the organic ligand; reacting the organic ligand with the metal oxide to form a metal organic framework (“
MOF”
);interacting the transition metal with the MOF; applying a second heat treatment, converting organic components of the MOF to a carbonaceous material; and forming a catalytically active site by reacting the transition metal with nitrogen containing moieties. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An alkaline fuel cell comprising:
a cathode and an electrode separated by an alkaline electrolyte, the cathode comprising a non-platinum group metal (PGM) electrode catalyst derived from metal-organic framework (MOF) material having a plurality of pores, and including a non-PGM first transition metal catalytic center and selected from the group consisting of;
Co, Fe, Ni, Cr, Cu, and Mn.- View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of catalyzing an alkaline fuel cell, comprising:
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providing a nitrogen containing electrode catalyst free of precious group metals (PGM) synthesizing a metal-organic framework (MOF) electrode catalyst precursor, the MOF electrode catalyst precursor including a first non-PGM transition metal complex, a ligand, and a metal oxide, the MOF having a plurality of uniformly distributed cavities; thermolyzing at least an organic portion within the plurality of cavities to form a catalytically active site; and incorporating the electrode catalyst into a membrane electrode assembly of an alkaline fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification