Photocatalytic methods for preparation of electrocatalyst materials

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and structures of metal particles on a support material, including platinum-containing nanoparticles on a carbon support. Such materials can be used as electrocatalysts, for example as improved electrocatalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEM-FCs).

Having described our invention, we claim: 
     
         1 . An electrocatalyst, comprising:
 a support material comprising electron-conducting particles; and   platinum-containing particles that are reduced and disposed on a surface of the support material, the platinum-containing particles having a median diameter of less than 100 nm.   
     
     
         2 . The electrocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the platinum-containing particles have a median diameter of between approximately 2 nm and approximately 50 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The electrocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the platinum-containing particles are platinum alloy particles. 
     
     
         4 . The electrocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the support material comprises carbon. 
     
     
         5 . The electrocatalyst of  claim 4 , wherein the platinum alloy particles comprise platinum and at least one metal selected from the group of metals consisting of Sn, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Nb, V, Mo, Mn, Pd, Ru, Zr, Ir, Rh, or V. 
     
     
         6 . An electrocatalyst, comprising:
 a support material comprising electron-conducting particles; and   platinum alloy particles that are reduced and disposed on a surface of the support material, the platinum alloy particles having a median diameter of less than 100 nm.   
     
     
         7 . The electrocatalyst of  claim 6 , wherein the platinum-containing particles have a median diameter of between approximately 2 nm and approximately 50 nm. 
     
     
         8 . The electrocatalyst of  claim 6 , wherein the support material comprises carbon. 
     
     
         9 . The electrocatalyst of  claim 6 , wherein the platinum alloy particles comprise platinum and at least one metal selected from the group of metals consisting of Sn, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Nb, V, Mo, Mn, Pd, Ru, Zr, Ir, Rh, or V.