Nickel-Noble Metal Intermetallic Catalyst for Leaching-Stable Electrochemistry
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development of nickel-based intermetallic compounds as electrochemical catalysts has been hindered by material restrictions and performance deterioration due to metal leaching during reactions, limiting their stability and catalytic activity in applications like oxygen reduction and hydrogen production.
Innovation Solution
A catalyst comprising a nickel-based intermetallic compound supported on a substrate, formed by preparing an admixture of nickel and noble metal precursors, applying energy to achieve a randomly arranged alloy, mixing with urea, and heat-treating under specific conditions to create a tetragonal crystal structure with a 4:6 to 6:4 element ratio, resulting in a stable intermetallic compound with enhanced catalytic properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If nickel-based intermetallic compounds are used as electrochemical catalysts, then catalytic activity is improved, but stability deteriorates due to metal leaching during reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a core-shell structure where a nickel-based intermetallic compound core is coated with a noble metal shell. This composite structure allows the nickel core to provide high catalytic activity while the noble metal shell prevents metal leaching and improves stability during electrochemical reactions.
2Ease of manufacture
If general synthesis methods are used for nickel-based intermetallic compounds, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but synthesis stability deteriorates because they could not be synthesized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent first prepares a nickel-based intermetallic compound core with controlled structure and composition before coating it with noble metal. This preliminary preparation of the core structure enables subsequent successful synthesis and improves overall synthesis stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a specific coating process as an intermediary step between core preparation and final catalyst formation. This intermediary coating step with noble metal enables the transformation of an unstable nickel-based compound into a stable synthesized catalyst.
3Power
If nickel-based alloy catalysts are used, then catalytic activity in electrochemical reactions is improved, but performance deterioration occurs due to metal leaching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite catalyst where nickel-based intermetallic compound provides high catalytic activity for oxygen reduction and hydrogen production reactions, while the noble metal coating layer prevents nickel leaching, thereby maintaining performance over extended periods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method enables the stable synthesis of nickel-noble metal intermetallic compounds with improved catalytic performance, maintaining activity over time and suitable for use in electrochemical cells such as fuel cells and batteries, with the catalyst showing peaks in X-ray diffraction patterns indicative of intermetallic formation.
Implementation Method 1
applying energy to the admixture to obtain an intermediate including the support and an alloy loaded on the support and including nickel (Ni) and a noble metal
Implementation Method 2
heat-treating the mixed powder to obtain a catalyst including the support and an metal component loaded on the support. The metal component may include an intermetallic compound of nickel (Ni) and the noble metal
Implementation Method 3
The metal component may have a tetragonal crystal structure
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a catalyst including a nickel-based intermetallic compound and a method of preparing the same. The catalyst includes a support and a metal component loaded on the support, wherein the metal component includes an intermetallic compound of nickel (Ni) and a noble metal.