Noble Metal Nanocluster OER Catalysts With Low Noble Metal Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing noble metal-based catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction in water splitting are costly and require high overpotential, limiting their commercialization and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A catalyst comprising cobalt hydroxide nanostructures with dispersed noble metal nanoclusters, such as rhodium, platinum, or palladium, is used to enhance oxygen evolution reaction activity, achieving comparable performance to iridium oxide-based catalysts while reducing the noble metal content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If noble metal-based catalysts (e.g., iridium oxide) are used for oxygen evolution reaction, then catalytic activity is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines transition metal compounds (cobalt hydroxide, nickel hydroxide, or their oxides) with noble metal nanoclusters to create composite catalysts. This composite structure allows the transition metal compound to provide the bulk catalytic framework while the small amount of noble metal nanoclusters (0.1-5 wt%) enhance the overall catalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction, thereby reducing noble metal content while maintaining or improving performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and distribution parameters of noble metals by forming nanoclusters with controlled size (1-10 nm) and optimizing their dispersion within the transition metal compound matrix. This parameter optimization maximizes the catalytic efficiency per unit mass of noble metal, allowing lower noble metal content to achieve the same or better catalytic activity
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional electrochemical electrodes are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but corrosion occurs under acidic environment or high driving voltage is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure where transition metal compounds (cobalt hydroxide, nickel hydroxide, or their oxides) serve as the corrosion-resistant matrix, while noble metal nanoclusters provide catalytic activity. This composite architecture protects the electrode from corrosion in acidic environments while maintaining catalytic efficiency, eliminating the need for high driving voltages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive and scarce iridium oxide with more abundant and cost-effective transition metal compounds combined with small amounts of noble metal nanoclusters. This substitution achieves comparable or superior performance at lower cost, making the catalyst economically viable for commercial water splitting applications
3Reliability
If high noble metal content is used in catalyst, then oxygen evolution reaction activity is improved, but price competitiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops composite catalysts where transition metal compounds provide the structural framework and bulk catalytic properties, while trace amounts of noble metal nanoclusters (0.1-5 wt%) serve as active sites enhancement. This synergistic composite structure achieves high oxygen evolution reaction activity with minimal noble metal content, dramatically improving price competitiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent concentrates noble metal content specifically at critical active sites within the catalyst structure as nanoclusters, rather than distributing noble metals uniformly. This localized quality enhancement maximizes the catalytic efficiency per unit mass of noble metal, allowing low overall noble metal content to maintain high oxygen evolution reaction activity
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 catalyst exhibits excellent oxygen evolution reaction activity at low overpotential, improving price competitiveness and commercial viability, with oxygen and hydrogen gases produced at high purity.
Implementation Method 1
an electrochemical catalyst is required to increase the oxygen evolution rate or the oxygen reduction rate
Implementation Method 2
noble metal nanoclusters dispersed in an amount of 0.5 to 2% by weight, based upon the weight of the catalyst, in the nanostructure
Implementation Method 3
Water splitting refers to a process in which a compound that is not naturally dissociated into an anion and a cation in an aqueous solution is dissociated into an anion and a cation by application of an electric current
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are an electrochemical catalyst capable of lowering the overpotential of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during a water splitting reaction even with a very small amount of noble metal in the complicated water splitting reaction that requires high overpotential, and a water splitting system using the same.