Method of treating nanoparticles using a proton exchange membrane and liquid electrolyte cell

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention includes an electrochemical cell including a proton exchange membrane and a method of treating nanoparticles using the same.

1 . A method comprising:
 supporting electrically conductive nanoparticles to be electrochemically treated over a working electrode, immersing the working electrode with the supported nanoparticles in a liquid electrolyte solution, immersing a counter electrode in the electrolyte solution, and immersing a polymer electrolyte membrane in the electrolyte solution between the working electrode with nanoparticles supported thereon and the counter electrode to define a working electrode compartment and a counter electrode compartment of the cell,   applying a potential or a current across the electrodes to treat the nanoparticles.   
     
     
         2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising immersing a reference electrode on the working electrode side. 
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising providing a gas purge tube in the liquid electrolyte on the working electrode side of the cell. 
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3  further comprising providing a container for holding the electrolyte solution and a cover over the container. 
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the working electrode comprises a first carbon cloth and a gauze comprising a metal supporting the carbon cloth, and wherein the particles are spread on the first carbon cloth. 
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the gauze comprises platinum or gold or graphite. 
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the counter electrode comprises a second carbon cloth and a gauze material comprising a metal supporting the carbon cloth. 
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth as  claim 5  wherein the counter electrode comprises a second carbon cloth supported by a gauze comprising platinum or supported Pt nanoparticles. 
     
     
         9 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
 a container and a liquid electrolyte received in the container;   a working electrode, and nanoparticles supported by the working electrode;   a counter electrode; and   a polymer electrolyte membrane separating liquid electrolyte on the counter electrode side from liquid electrolyte on the working electrode side of the cell.   
     
     
         10 . An electrochemical cell as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the nanoparticles comprise at least one of Pt, Pt alloy, Ni, or other noble metals or metal alloys. 
     
     
         11 . An electrochemical cell as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the working electrode comprises a first carbon cloth supporting the nanoparticles, and a gauze comprising a metal supporting the carbon cloth. 
     
     
         12 . An electrochemical cell as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the gauze comprises at least one of platinum or gold or graphite. 
     
     
         13 . An electrochemical cell as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the counter electrode comprises a second carbon cloth supported by a gauze comprising a metal. 
     
     
         14 . An electrochemical cell as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the gauze comprises at least one of platinum or gold or graphite. 
     
     
         15 . An electrochemical cell as set forth in  claim 9  further comprising a reference electrode immersed in the liquid electrolyte on the working electrode side of the cell. 
     
     
         16 . An electrochemical cell as set forth in  claim 9  further comprising a gas purge tube immersed in the liquid electrolyte on the working electrode side of the cell. 
     
     
         17 . An electrochemical cell as set forth in  claim 16  further comprising a cover over the container. 
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the nanoparticles comprise Pt/C, and the electrochemical treatment of the nanoparticles comprises an electrochemical oxidation step. 
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 18  further comprising using the nanoparticles in a H 2 /air proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell operated at high current densities to achieve higher voltage. 
     
     
         20 . An electrochemical multi-cell comprising:
 a container and a liquid electrolyte received in the container;   at least two working electrodes, and nanoparticles supported by the working electrodes;   at least one counter electrode; and   at least two polymer electrolyte membranes separating liquid electrolyte in counter electrode compartments from liquid electrolyte in working electrode compartments in the multi-cell.   
     
     
         21 . An electrochemical multi-cell as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the nanoparticles comprise at least one of Pt, Pt alloy, Ni, or other noble metals or metal alloys. 
     
     
         22 . An electrochemical multi-cell as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the working electrodes comprise a first carbon cloth supporting the nanoparticles, and a gauze comprising a metal supporting the carbon cloth. 
     
     
         23 . An electrochemical multi-cell as set forth in  claim 22  wherein the gauze comprises at least one of platinum or gold or graphite. 
     
     
         24 . An electrochemical multi-cell as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the counter electrodes comprise a second carbon cloth supported by a gauze comprising a metal. 
     
     
         25 . An electrochemical multi-cell as set forth in  claim 24  wherein the gauze comprises at least one of platinum or gold or graphite.