IP Library Granted Patent US 12,612,704
Granted Patent B2
US 12,612,704 · App. 18/154,107 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Catalyst with functionalized support

Inventors: Fan Yang (Latham, NY); Qiang Sun (Latham, NY)
Assignee: PLUG POWER INC.
C25B11/067C25B1/04C25B9/19C25B11/081C25B13/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,612,704
App. No.
18/154,107
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A catalyst includes a support and a plurality of catalyst particles disposed on the support. The support may include a plurality of metal oxide or doped metal oxide particles and a plurality of organic groups attached to the metal oxide or doped metal oxide particles via diazonium salt reaction. The plurality of organic groups, which may be aromatic groups and/or alkyl groups, may be substituted with functional groups that are positively or negatively charged.

Claims (21)

1 . A catalyst comprising:

a support comprising a plurality of support particles, wherein each support particle has a surface and comprises at least one metal oxide, at least one dopant attached to the at least one metal oxide, and at least one organic group attached to the at least one metal oxide via a diazonium salt reaction; and

a plurality of catalyst particles, wherein the catalyst particles are IrCl 6 2− or Ir + .

2 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal oxide is titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, niobium oxide, tantalum oxide, tin oxide, or any combination thereof.

3 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein the at least one organic group is phenyl substituted with NH 2 .

4 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein the at least one organic group is phenyl substituted with SO 3 H, COOH, or OH.

5 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of catalyst particles further comprises one or more of iridium, iridium oxide, ruthenium, ruthenium oxide, platinum, platinum oxide, platinum black particles, or any combination thereof.

6 . A water electrolyzer cell comprising:

a solid polymer proton exchange membrane, the solid polymer proton exchange membrane having first and second opposed faces;

an anode catalyst layer, the anode catalyst layer being positioned along the first face of the solid polymer proton exchange membrane, said anode catalyst layer comprising:

a support comprising a plurality of support particles, wherein each support particle has a surface and comprises at least one metal oxide, at least one dopant attached to the at least one metal oxide, and at least one organic group attached to the at least one metal oxide via a diazonium salt reaction; and

a plurality of catalyst particles, wherein the catalyst particles are IrCl 6 2− or Ir + ;

a cathode catalyst layer, the cathode catalyst layer being positioned along the second face of the solid polymer proton exchange membrane;

a first current collector, the first current collector being positioned along the anode catalyst layer opposite the solid polymer exchange membrane; and

a second current collector, the second current collector being positioned along the cathode catalyst layer opposite the solid polymer exchange membrane.

7 . The water electrolyzer cell of claim 6 , wherein the at least one dopant is tungsten.

8 . The water electrolyzer cell of claim 7 , wherein the at least one metal oxide is titanium oxide.

9 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein the at least one dopant is tungsten.

10 . The catalyst of claim 9 , wherein the at least one metal oxide is titanium oxide.

11 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein the at least one dopant is tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, fluorine or any combination thereof.

12 . The water electrolyzer cell of claim 6 , wherein the at least one dopant is tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, fluorine or any combination thereof.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2025
From: YA II PN, LTD., IN ITS CAPACITY AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: PLUG POWER, INC.; PLUG POWER HYDROGEN HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED HYDROGEN GROUP INC.; PLUG PROJECT HOLDING CO., LLC; PEACHTREE RENEWABLES, LLC; JOULE PROCESSING LLC; APPLIED CRYO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; ALLOY CUSTOM PRODUCTS, LLC; HYPULSION U.S. HOLDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 073036/0448 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2025
From: PLUG POWER INC.; APPLIED CRYO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PLUG POWER HYDROGEN HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED HYDROGEN GROUP INC.; ALLOY CUSTOM PRODUCTS, LLC; JOULE PROCESSING LLC; PEACHTREE RENEWABLES, LLC; PLUG PROJECT HOLDING CO., LLC; HYPULSION U.S. HOLDING, INC.
To: YA II PN, LTD., IN ITS CAPACITY AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071084/0264 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2023
From: YANG, FAN; SUN, QIANG
To: PLUG POWER INC.
Reel/Frame 062368/0088 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240240334A1 · Jul 18, 2024
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