Shape- and size-controlled supported metal and intermetallic nanocrystallites are of increasing interest because of their catalytic and electrocatalytic properties. In particular, intermetallics PtX (X 5 Bi, Pb, Pd, Ru) are very attractive because of their high activity as fuel-cell anode catalysts for formic acid or methanol oxidation. These are normally synthesized using high-temperature techniques, but rigorous size control is very challenging. Even low-temperature techniques typically produce nanoparticles with dimensions much greater than the optimum <6 nm required for fuel cell catalysis. Here, we present a simple and robust, chemically controlled process for synthesizing size-controlled noble metal or bimetallic nanocrystallites embedded within the porous structure of ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC). By using surface-modified ordered mesoporous carbon to trap the metal precursors, nanocrystallites are formed with monodisperse sizes as low as 1.5 nm, which can be tuned up to ∼3.5 nm. To the best of our knowledge, 3-nm ordered mesoporous carbon-supported PtBi nanoparticles exhibit the highest mass activity for formic acid oxidation reported to date, and over double that of Pt–Au.

Nanocrystalline intermetallics on mesoporous carbon for direct formic acid fuel cell anodes

Improvements to non acid methanol fuel cells include new formulations for materials. The platinum and ruthenium are more exactly mixed together. Different materials are substituted for these materials. The backing material for the fuel cell electrode is specially treated to improve its characteristics. A special sputtered electrode is formed which is extremely porous.

/pdf/direct-methanol-feed-fuel-cell-and-system-569v40qs0j.pdf

Direct methanol feed fuel cell and system

The present invention is directed to nanowire structures and interconnected nanowire networks comprising such structures, as well as methods for their production. The nanowire structures comprise a nanowire core, a carbon-based layer, and in additional embodiments, carbon-based structures such as nanographitic plates consisting of graphenes formed on the nanowire cores, interconnecting the nanowire structures in the networks. The networks are porous structures that can be formed into membranes or particles. The nanowire structures and the networks formed using them are useful in catalyst and electrode applications, including fuel cells, as well as field emission devices, support substrates and chromatographic applications.

Nanowire structures comprising carbon

The present invention discloses nanowires for use in a fuel cell comprising a metal catalyst deposited on a surface of the nanowires A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is disclosed which generally comprises a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode, wherein at least one or more of the anode electrode and cathode electrode comprise an interconnected network of the catalyst supported nanowires Methods are also disclosed for preparing a membrane electrode assembly and fuel cell based upon an interconnected network of nanowires

Nanowire-based membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells

A liquid organic fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion™. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon™-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion™/methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion™. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed. New organic fuels, namely, trimethoxymethane, dimethoxymethane, and trioxane are also described for use with either conventional or improved fuel cells.

/pdf/aqueous-liquid-feed-organic-fuel-cell-using-solid-polymer-thmyk5nzlg.pdf

Aqueous liquid feed organic fuel cell using solid polymer electrolyte membrane

A methanol fuel cell wherein a positive electrode (2) and a negative electrode (1) are disposed in contact with a solid film (3) which exhibits a hydrogen ion- and/ or hydronium ion-conductivity. The methanol permeability coefficient of the solid film (3) of the methanol fuel cell is at most 1 x 10-6 mol/mol/l).min.cm2.

Methanol fuel cell

This invention is a fuel element for liquid fuel cell characterized in that a liquid fuel is rendered to assume a non-fluidized state by either physical means or chemical means, and is returned back to the initial liquid fuel at any time by physical means or chemical means.

Fuel element for liquid fuel cell and a liquid fuel cell

PURPOSE:To obtain a high mechanical intensity electrode for a fuel cell from which a catalyst is not separated and in which no cracks are caused and a high performance is maintained over a long period by adding a fibrous substance to make a catalyst layer. CONSTITUTION:A catalyst principally consisting of one or more platinum group elements is supported on a porous conductive carrier such as active carbon, furnace black, graphite powder or the like so that mixture of a given concentration of the catalyst is prepared. After a fibrous substance is added to the carrier catalyst powder, a sufficient amount of water is added to the mixture before it is kneaded to prepare a paste. The thus prepared paste, after being sufficiently mixed, is combined with colloidal polytetrafluoroethylene used as a binder before being kneaded again. The thus prepared paste is applied to a porous conductive base material before this is dried and sintered, thereby obtaining an electrode for a fuel cell. As the fibrous substance, polytetrafluoroethylene also used as the binder can be used since it resists a sintering temperature of 200- 300 deg.C and any substances which can not be activated by electrolyte, fuel and an oxidizing agent may be used. For example glass wool, silica wool, silica, alumina wool, alumina-wool, acid-proof metal wools of tantalum and the like and carbon wool can be used.

Electrode for fuel cell

PURPOSE:To provide a portable type fuel cell which is capable of processing reactive products in the inside of the body of the fuel cell by providing means to accommodate the reactive products due to the operation of the fuel cell or means to absorb the reactive products in the inside of the cell system. CONSTITUTION:A fuel tank 3 is divided into three divisions and an accommodating chamber 8 for absorbent for carbon dioxide, which has a detachable inlet port in an outlet port for the carbon deoxide connected to a fuel electrode, is provided in the upper division, and a tank 9 for product water, which has a detachable inlet port in an outlet port for air connected to an air electrode, is provided in the lower division, and the middle of the tank is for the division for accommodating the fuel. Soda lime, caustic alkali, ethanol amine etc. are used as CO2 absorbent. Starch-acrylonitrile hydrolitic products, cellulose graft products, polyacrylic sodium and polyvinylalcohol cross-linking products etc. are used as water absorbing agent for product water, however, a tank for storing the product water may be installed in a part of the body of the fuel cell instead of the use of the water absorbing agent.

Portable type fuel cell

A liquid fuel cell including an anode made of carbon powders, which contains therein an electrode catalyzer and is adapted to be supplied with a liquid fuel, a cathode supplied with oxygen, and a separator interposed between the anode and the cathode. In order to improve cell performance, the anode is formed from carbon powders bonded with a binder, the carbon powders having particle sizes passing through a 50 Tyler mesh screen, in which at least thirty percent by volume of the carbon powders are unable to pass through a 100 Tyler mesh screen.

Hidejiro Kawana

Papers

Methanol fuel cell

Fuel element for liquid fuel cell and a liquid fuel cell

Electrode for fuel cell

Portable type fuel cell

Liquid fuel cell