Nitrogen-Doped Carbon-Supported Cobalt-Iron Oxygen Reduction Catalyst

Abstract

A Fe—Co hybrid catalyst for oxygen reaction reduction was prepared by a two part process. The first part involves reacting an ethyleneamine with a cobalt-containing precursor to form a cobalt-containing complex, combining the cobalt-containing complex with an electroconductive carbon supporting material, heating the cobalt-containing complex and carbon supporting material under conditions suitable to convert the cobalt-containing complex and carbon supporting material into a cobalt-containing catalyst support. The second part of the process involves polymerizing an aniline in the presence of said cobalt-containing catalyst support and an iron-containing compound conditions suitable to form a supported, cobalt-containing, iron-bound polyaniline species, and subjecting said supported, cobalt-containing, iron bound polyaniline species to conditions suitable for producing a Fe—Co hybrid catalyst.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional application of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 094,594 entitled “Nitrogen-Doped Carbon-Supported Cobalt-Iron Oxygen Reduction Catalyst” filed Apr. 26, 2011, now allowed, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 328,067 entitled “Non-Precious Metal Fuel Cell Catalysts,” filed Apr. 26, 2010, all incorporated by reference herein.STATEMENT OF FEDERAL RIGHTS[0002]The United States government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. DE-AC52-06NA25396 between the United States Department of Energy and Los Alamos National Security, LLC for the operation of Los Alamos National Laboratory.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to catalysts for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, to a method for making the catalysts, and to electrochemical cells that include the catalysts.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Electrochemical fuel cells convert fuel such as H2 or m...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides non-precious metal catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The invention includes a hybrid catalyst made of Fe and Co, which has a narrowed performance gap with platinum and a high activity. The hybrid catalyst has been prepared through a two-part process involving the reaction of an ethyleneamine with a cobalt-containing precursor to form a cobalt-containing complex, combining it with an electroconductive carbon supporting material, heating it under conditions suitable to convert the complex and carbon supporting material into a catalyst support, and polymerizing an aniline in the presence of the supported catalyst support and an iron-containing compound to form a Fe—Co hybrid catalyst. The invention also includes an electrode that comprises the Fe—Co hybrid catalyst and an electrochemical cell that includes the hybrid catalyst. The invention provides a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to platinum-based catalysts for fuel cells.

Problems solved by technology

It is generally believed that the large-scale practical application of fuel cells will be difficult to achieve if the expensive platinum-based cathode catalyst, which carries out the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), cannot be realized either with significantly reduced catalyst loading or with another efficient, low-cost, and durable catalyst.

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