Layered Manganese Oxide for Single-Atom Platinum Catalysts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catalysts for oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution reactions, particularly those using platinum group metals, face challenges due to high costs and complex synthesis procedures, and there is a need for more efficient and cost-effective methods to achieve high catalytic activity.
Innovation Solution
A layered manganese oxide with platinum group particles between its layers is developed, where the platinum group particles are synthesized in a subnano or single-atom state without aggregation, utilizing the interlayer gaps of the manganese oxide as a support, allowing for excellent catalytic activity in oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bulk electronic state materials are used for catalysts, then the synthesis is simpler, but the catalytic activity reaches a ceiling and cannot be improved further
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the size parameter of the catalyst from bulk to subnano/single-atom scale, which fundamentally alters the electronic state and surface energy, thereby improving catalytic activity for ORR and HER reactions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses layered manganese oxide as an intermediary support material to stabilize subnano or single-atom platinum group particles, preventing their aggregation while maintaining high catalytic activity. The manganese oxide layers act as a physical barrier and chemical stabilizer
2Reliability
If subnano or single-atom metal catalysts are produced, then catalytic activity improves, but multiple heat treatment steps are required making the synthesis cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the catalyst support (layered manganese oxide) and the metal particles (platinum group) into a single integrated structure where the particles are formed directly between the layers during synthesis, eliminating separate support preparation and particle deposition steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares the layered manganese oxide structure with interlayer spacing optimized for particle formation before introducing the metal precursor, ensuring that particles form in the correct location and size range without requiring subsequent heat treatment or size control steps
3Reliability
If subnano or single-atom metal catalysts are produced, then catalytic activity improves, but carbon materials require special treatment to prevent aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive and complexly treated carbon supports with a more stable and easier-to-handle layered manganese oxide support that inherently prevents particle aggregation through its layered structure, eliminating the need for special surface treatments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system where layered manganese oxide provides both structural support and stabilization for platinum group particles, combining the advantages of oxide stability with metal catalytic activity in a single material system
4Reliability
If platinum group metals are used for high catalytic activity, then reaction efficiency improves, but the high cost becomes a barrier to widespread use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional parameter of platinum group particles to subnano or single-atom scale, which dramatically increases the surface area to volume ratio and exposes more active sites per unit mass, thereby improving catalytic activity and reducing the total amount of platinum needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent concentrates platinum group particles in specific locations between the manganese oxide layers where they can maximize their catalytic effect, creating localized high-activity regions rather than distributing metal uniformly, which improves utilization efficiency
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 approach enables the production of platinum group particles with high catalytic activity at a smaller scale, reducing the amount of platinum needed and simplifying the synthesis process, while maintaining or improving reaction efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
by utilizing the gap between the layers of a layered manganese oxide, subnano or single-atom particles of platinum, palladium, or the like can be fabricated without complicated steps while aggregation is suppressed
Implementation Method 2
the layered manganese oxide has both continuous oxide layers for electron transfer
Implementation Method 3
continuous spaces for ion transfer
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object of the present invention to provide a catalyst having high catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, and the like, particularly a catalyst employing platinum group particles having a small particle diameter. A layered manganese oxide comprising platinum group metal particles between layers. A method for producing a layered manganese oxide comprising platinum group metal particles between layers, or platinum group metal particles, the method comprising introducing a platinum group complex between layers of a layered manganese oxide and reducing the introduced platinum group complex by electrolysis, wherein a potential applied to the platinum group complex is changed in a positive direction and a negative direction.