DESCRIPTION:
The invention describes a new class of
gold-alloy nanoparticle catalysts for fuel
cell anode and cathode electrocatalysis.
The catalysts have demonstrated high catalytic
activities towards methanol oxidation, CO
oxidation, and O2 reduction in both alkaline
and acidic media. The key elements of the
disclosed catalytic technology involves
the controlled preparation of gold alloy
nanoparticles, their subsequent assembly
and dispersion, and their controlled activation
by thermal and electrochemical methods.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
While the initial applications of the disclosed
technology has focused on catalyst use in
fuel cells, the technology can be applied
to a variety of important industries and
market applications in automobile and portable
energy device manufacture, as-well-as chemical
sensor design.
ADVANTAGES:
-
Compared to current catalytic processed,
the disclosed technology presents a
number of potential advantages, including:
-
Significant reduction in the cost of
the catalyst.
-
Elimination of the "poisoning
effect."
-
The catalytic activity is bifunctional.
-
The catalysts can be used for both
anode and cathode reactions in fuel
cells.
DISADVANTAGES:
None known or disclosed at this time.
PATENT STATUS:
Patent pending (U.S. Patent Application
# 11/051,777, Filing Date: 2/4/05)
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