Nanocomposite electrode material for proton conducting fuel cell
View Patent ↗An electrode includes a proton conducting electrolyte phase, an electronic conducting phase, and a metal or metal alloy catalyst in contact with each of the phases. The electronic conducting phase is infiltrated with the proton conducting electrolyte phase such that the phases form a solid nanocomposite with bulk electronic conductivity.
1. An electrode comprising:
a proton conducting electrolyte phase;
an electronic conducting phase having pores thereon and interior diameter regions therein both infiltrated with the proton conducting electrolyte phase such that the phases form a solid nanocomposite with bulk electronic conductivity; and
a metal or metal alloy catalyst in contact with each of the phases.
2. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the proton conducting electrolyte phase is a phosphate.
3. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the proton conducting electrolyte phase is a superprotonic solid acid.
4. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the proton conducting electrolyte phase is a pyrophosphate.
5. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the proton conducting electrolyte phase is an oxide.
6. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the proton conducting electrolyte phase is a polymer.
7. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the proton conducting electrolyte phase is organic.
8. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronic conducting phase is chemically functionalized.
9. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronic conducting phase is doped with heteroatoms.
10. The electrode of claim 6 , wherein the heteroatoms include boron, nitrogen or phosphorous.
11. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronic conducting phase is carbon nanotubes.
12. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronic conducting phase is mesoporous carbon.
13. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronic conducting phase is single-walled or multi-walled carbon nanohorn.
14. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronic conducting phase is porous carbon fibers.
15. The electrode of claim 14 , wherein the porous carbon fibers are doped with heteroatoms.
16. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the metal or metal alloy catalyst includes platinum.
17. A proton conducting fuel cell comprising:
a separator membrane; and
an electrode in contact with the separator membrane, and including an electronic conducting phase having pores thereon and interior diameter regions therein, a proton conducting electrolyte phase infiltrated within the pores and interior diameter regions, and a metal or metal alloy catalyst in contact with the phases to form a solid nanocomposite with bulk electronic conductivity.
18. The proton conducting fuel cell of claim 17 , wherein the electrode is an anode.
19. The proton conducting fuel cell of claim 18 , wherein the catalyst includes palladium or ruthenium.