Platinum-ruthenium-nickel fuel cell electrocatalyst
View Patent ↗A catalyst suitable for use in a fuel cell, especially as an anode catalyst, that contains platinum, ruthenium, and nickel, wherein the nickel is at a concentration that is less than about 10 atomic percent.
1. A catalyst for use in electrochemical reactor devices, the catalyst containing platinum, ruthenium, and nickel, wherein the nickel is at a concentration that is less than about 10 atomic percent.
2. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is an alloy.
3. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the concentration of nickel is at least about 1 atomic percent.
4. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the concentration of nickel is at least about 2 atomic percent.
5. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the concentration of nickel is at least about 4 atomic percent.
6. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the platinum is at a concentration that is between about 40 and about 70 atomic percent and the ruthenium is at a concentration that is between about 30 and about 50 atomic percent.
7. The catalyst of claim 6 wherein the concentration of nickel is less than about 6 atomic percent.
8. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the platinum is at a concentration that is between about 45 and about 65 atomic percent and the ruthenium is at a concentration that is between about 35 and about 50 atomic percent.
9. The catalyst of claim 8 wherein the concentration of nickel is less than about 6 atomic percent.
10. The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the platinum is at a concentration that is between about 50 and about 60 atomic percent and the ruthenium is at a concentration that is between about 40 and about 50 atomic percent.
11. The catalyst of claim 10 wherein the concentration of nickel is less than about 6 atomic percent.
12. A supported electrocatalyst powder for use in electrochemical reactor devices, the supported electrocatalyst powder comprising a catalyst on electrically conductive supports, the catalyst containing platinum, ruthenium, and nickel, wherein the nickel is at a concentration that is less than about 10 atomic percent.
13. The supported electrocatalyst powder of claim 12 wherein the platinum is at a concentration that is between about 40 and about 70 atomic percent and the ruthenium is at a concentration that is between about 30 and about 50 atomic percent.
14. The supported electrocatalyst powder of claim 13 wherein the concentration of nickel is less than about 6 atomic percent.
15. The supported electrocatalyst powder of claim 12 wherein the catalyst is present on the electrically conductive supports as metal alloy deposits.
16. A fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode, a proton exchange membrane between the anode and the cathode, and a catalyst for the catalytic oxidation of a hydrogen-containing fuel, wherein the catalyst contains platinum, ruthenium and nickel, wherein the nickel is at a concentration that is less than about 10 atomic percent.
17. The fuel cell of claim 16 wherein the concentration of nickel is at least about 1 atomic percent.
18. The fuel cell of claim 16 wherein the platinum is at a concentration that is between about 40 and about 70 atomic percent and the ruthenium is at a concentration that is between about 30 and about 50 atomic percent.
19. The fuel cell of claim 18 wherein the concentration of nickel is less than about 6 atomic percent.
20. The fuel cell of claim 16 wherein the catalyst is an alloy.