Electrocatalysts using porous polymers and method of preparation
A method of producing an electrocatalyst article using porous polymers. The method creates a porous polymer designed to receive transition metal groups disposed at ligation sites and activating the transition metals to form an electrocatalyst which can be used in a fuel cell. Electrocatalysts prepared by this method are also provided. A fuel cell which includes the electrocatalyst is also provided.
1. A method of making an electrocatalyst comprising:
preparing a porous polymer by mixing a bipyridine monomer selected from:
and a stereo-contorted spirobifluorene monomer selected from:
adding a precursor consisting essentially of one or more transition metals to the porous polymer; and
activating one or more transition metals disposed in the porous polymer by thermal treatment.
2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein activating the transition metals includes calcining the porous polymer to form a carbonaceous material in an inert gas atmosphere.
3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the carbonaceous material is treated at an elevated temperature in the presence of N-containing compounds selected from ammonia, pyridine or acetonitrile.
4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of activating transition metal sites includes adding a metal complex selected from the group of Co(hfac) 2 , Fe (hfac) 2 and Ni(hfac) 2 wherein hfac is hexafluoroacetylacetonate.
5. The method as defined in claim 1 which further includes post-treatment.