Interembedded Tungsten-Copper Alloy Powder via Stepwise Heat Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen production methods face challenges in achieving long-term stability and low voltage operation for ethanol-assisted hydrogen production, particularly in maintaining high current densities using core-shell structure catalysts.
Innovation Solution
The development of an interembedded autogenous tungsten-copper and molybdenum-copper alloy powders through a method involving the preparation of a mixed solution, gel formation, calcination, and thermal reduction in an argon-hydrogen atmosphere to create a unique interembedded structure that balances reduction and oxidation capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If core-shell structure catalysts are used for ethanol-assisted hydrogen production, then bifunctional electrocatalytic activity is improved, but long-term stability at high current density cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a core-shell structure composite material with Pt nanoparticles embedded in a TiO2 matrix, where the core provides catalytic activity and the shell provides structural stability. This composite structure allows the catalyst to maintain both high bifunctional electrocatalytic activity for ethanol oxidation and hydrogen evolution reactions, and long-term stability at high current densities up to 100 mA cm−2 for over 100 hours.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If ethanol oxidation reaction is used to replace oxygen evolution reaction, then electrolysis voltage is reduced, but difficulty in maintaining long-term stability at high current density increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the reaction parameters by replacing the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR), which has a lower theoretical voltage (0.54 V vs 1.23 V). The Pt/TiO2 catalyst is specifically designed to facilitate this voltage reduction while maintaining stability through its unique core-shell structure, achieving current densities of 100 mA cm−2 at low voltage for over 100 hours.
3Productivity
If Pt atoms are exposed on catalyst surface to increase utilization rate, then catalytic activity is improved, but control of interembedded autogenous structure becomes extremely challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a preliminary action approach by first forming the TiO2 support structure, then embedding Pt nanoparticles within it through a controlled synthesis process. This preliminary structuring allows Pt atoms to be exposed on the surface for high catalytic activity while the TiO2 matrix pre-established structure provides the framework for maintaining the interembedded autogenous structure, making the complex structure controllable and reproducible.
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 interembedded alloy powders exhibit stable operation at high current densities (100 mA cm−2) with a low voltage of 1.28 V and maintain stability for over 100 hours, outperforming existing catalysts in ethanol-assisted hydrogen production.
Implementation Method 1
concentrating a resulting mixture slowly to obtain a gel, and then drying the gel through a drying oven to obtain a precursor
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the tungsten-copper composite metal oxide powder to thermal reduction in an argon-hydrogen atmosphere to obtain the interembedded autogenous tungsten-copper alloy powder
Data Source
AI summary
An interembedded autogenous tungsten (molybdenum)-copper alloy powder, and a preparation method and use thereof are provided. By controlling concentration and type of an organic complex, positive ion metal salts and negative ion metal groups form coordination bonds with hydroxyl oxygen and carboxyl carbon of the organic complex so as to form complexes, respectively. A stepwise heat treatment is conducted to controllably prepare a tungsten (molybdenum)-copper alloy powder with a unique interembedded autogenous structure.