Metallized conducting polymer-grafted carbon material and method for making

• US 7,195,834 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HSBC Bank USA National Association (HSBC Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: Columbian Chemicals Company (Aditya Birla Management Corp Pvt Ltd.)
• Inventors: Srinivas, Bollepalli
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan; Patrick Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parsons; Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US10/654,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20040144961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 429/33, 429/42, 252/522, 252/510, 252/500
• US Class Current: 429/492
• 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 composition with enhanced electronic conductivity and containing a first metal comprising, oxidatively polymerizing monomer of a conducting polymer containing a hetero atom with particulate carbonaceous material to form a metallized conducting polymer-grafted carbonaceous material, wherein the oxidative polymerization takes place in the presence of a metal-containing oxidizing agent, wherein the metal of the metal-containing oxidizing agent is the first metal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbonaceous material comprises graphite, nanocarbon, fullerenes, fullerinic material, finely divided carbon, or a mixtures thereof.

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

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

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal-containing oxidizing agent comprises 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 comprises polyaniline, polypyrrole, polyfuran, polythiophene, poly(p-phenylene-oxide), poly(p-phenylene-sulfide), or a mixture thereof.

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

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reducing agent comprises formaldehyde, sodium borohydride, hydrogen, hydrazine, hydroxyl amine, or a mixture of reducing agents thereof.

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

11. A fuel cell device comprising the composition of claim 10.