Composite catalysts supported on modified carbon substrates and methods of making the same
View Patent ↗A method of producing a composite carbon catalyst is generally disclosed. The method includes oxidizing a carbon precursor (e.g., carbon black). Optionally, nitrogen functional groups can be added to the oxidized carbon precursor. Then, the oxidized carbon precursor is refluxed with a non-platinum transitional metal precursor in a solution. Finally, the solution is pyrolyzed at a temperature of at least about 500° C.
1. A method of producing a composite carbon catalyst, the method comprising:
providing a carbon precursor;
oxidizing the carbon precursor;
refluxing the oxidized carbon precursor with a non-platinum transitional metal precursor in a solution; and
pyrolyzing the solution at a temperature of at least about 500° C.
2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the carbon precursor comprises carbon black.
3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the step of oxidizing the carbon precursor is performed by refluxing the carbon precursor in the presence of an oxidizing agent, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises nitric acid.
4. A method as in claim 1 further comprising adding nitrogen functional groups to the oxidized carbon precursor prior to refluxing the oxidized carbon precursor with a non-platinum transitional metal.
5. A method as in claim 4 , wherein the nitrogen functional groups are provided by polymerizing a nitrogen source in the presence of the oxidized carbon precursor.
6. A method as in claim 5 , wherein the nitrogen source comprises melamine, urea, thio-urea, selenourea, or combinations thereof.
7. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the metal of the non-platinum transitional metal precursor comprises cobalt, iron, chromium, copper, nickel, or vanadium.
8. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the non-platinum transitional metal precursor comprises a metal chelate.
9. A method as in claim 8 , wherein the metal chelate has a structure of the formula MN 4 , wherein M is the metal and N is the nitrogen atom chelated with the metal.
10. A method as in claim 9 , wherein the non-platinum transitional metal precursor comprises cobalt ethylene diamine or cobalt propylene diamine.
11. A composite carbon catalyst made according to the method of claim 1 .
12. A method of producing a composite carbon catalyst, the method comprising:
providing a carbon precursor comprising carbon black;
oxidizing the carbon precursor;
adding nitrogen functional groups to the oxidized carbon precursor;
refluxing the oxidized carbon precursor with a non-platinum transitional metal precursor in a solution; and
pyrolyzing the solution at a temperature of at least about 500° C.
13. A method as in claim 12 , wherein the step of oxidizing the carbon precursor is performed by refluxing the carbon precursor in the presence of an oxidizing agent, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises nitric acid.
14. A method as in claim 12 , wherein the nitrogen functional groups are provided by polymerizing a nitrogen source in the presence of the oxidized carbon precursor.
15. A method as in claim 14 , wherein the nitrogen source comprises melamine, urea, thio-urea, selenourea, or combinations thereof.
16. A method as in claim 12 , wherein the metal of the non-platinum transitional metal precursor comprises cobalt, iron, chromium, copper, nickel, or vanadium.
17. A method as in claim 12 , wherein the non-platinum transitional metal precursor comprises a metal chelate.
18. A method as in claim 12 , wherein the metal chelate has a structure of the formula MN 4 , wherein M is the metal and N is the nitrogen atom chelated with the metal.
19. A method as in claim 12 , wherein the non-platinum transitional metal precursor comprises cobalt ethylene diamine or cobalt propylene diamine.
20. A method of producing a composite carbon catalyst, the method comprising:
providing a carbon precursor comprising carbon black;
oxidizing the carbon precursor with an oxidizing agent, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises nitric acid;
adding nitrogen functional groups to the oxidized carbon precursor, wherein the nitrogen functional groups are provided by polymerizing a nitrogen source in the presence of the oxidized carbon precursor;
refluxing the oxidized carbon precursor with a non-platinum transitional metal precursor in a solution, wherein the metal of the non-platinum transitional metal precursor comprises cobalt, iron, chromium, copper, nickel, or vanadium, and wherein the non-platinum transitional metal precursor comprises a metal chelate; and
pyrolyzing the solution at a temperature of at least about 500° C.