Pt-N-C Catalyst Atomic Sites for Chlorine Evolution Selectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current chlor-alkali processes for chlorine production face inefficiencies due to nonuniform catalytic activity and high oxygen side reactions, leading to unnecessary power consumption and explosive gas mixtures, with a need for catalysts that maximize precious metal utilization and selectivity in chlorine evolution reactions.
Innovation Solution
A Pt—N—C based electrochemical catalyst is developed, featuring a carbon support with Pt and N distributed in a monoatomic unit, utilizing macrocyclic compounds and heat-treated at specific temperatures to achieve high selectivity and durability, minimizing precious metal usage and preventing oxygen evolution side reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a mixed metal oxide catalyst based on precious metal is used, then catalytic activity for chlorine evolution is improved, but selectivity deteriorates due to high oxygen generating side reaction activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific Pt-N-C active sites with defined coordination environments (Pt surrounded by N atoms in carbon matrix). This localized structural design ensures that only specific regions of the catalyst exhibit chlorine evolution activity while suppressing oxygen evolution, resolving the selectivity problem without sacrificing overall catalytic activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the catalyst from mixed metal oxide composition to Pt-N-C molecular structure. By adjusting the coordination number of Pt (Pt-N4, Pt-N5, Pt-N6 configurations) and the carbon matrix structure, the catalyst achieves high selectivity for chlorine evolution while minimizing oxygen side reactions, directly addressing the selectivity contradiction.
2Productivity
If a large amount of precious metal is used to maintain activity, then catalytic activity is improved, but cost and metal utilization efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential catalytic function from bulk precious metal and concentrates it into atomic-scale Pt sites dispersed in a carbon matrix. By taking out only the necessary Pt atoms and arranging them in specific N-coordinated configurations, the catalyst achieves high activity with minimal precious metal content, resolving the contradiction between activity and metal usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive bulk precious metal with a carbon-based support structure that provides the primary catalytic framework. The precious metal Pt is used only in trace amounts as active sites, dramatically reducing precious metal consumption while maintaining catalytic activity through the synergistic Pt-N-C structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If nonuniform catalytic activity is present in MMO catalyst, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but performance consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-synthesizing the Pt-N-C structure with defined active sites before deployment. The Pt atoms are pre-coordinated with N atoms in the carbon matrix during catalyst synthesis, ensuring uniform distribution and consistent activity across the catalyst surface, thereby achieving both ease of manufacture and performance consistency.
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 Pt—N—C catalyst exhibits enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity for chlorine evolution, maximizing platinum utilization, improving electrode durability, and maintaining high performance even at low chlorine ion concentrations, outperforming traditional catalysts in terms of current retention and selectivity.
Implementation Method 1
Pt—N—C based electrochemical catalyst for chlorine evolution reaction
Implementation Method 2
an organic compound including Pt and N distributed on the carbon support
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a Pt—N—C based electrochemical catalyst for chlorine evolution reaction and a production method thereof, and an aspect of the present invention provides a Pt—N—C based electrochemical catalyst including: a carbon support; and an organic compound including Pt and N distributed on the carbon support.