Carbon supported catalyst

Abstract

A catalyst includes (i) a primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, and (ii) an electrically conductive carbon support material for the primary metal or alloy or mixture including the primary metal, wherein the carbon support material (a) has a specific surface area (BET) of 100-600 m2/g, and (b) has a micropore area of 10-60 m2/g. Methods for producing the carbon support material and methods for decreasing the corrosion rate of the carbon support material are also provided.

1 . A carbon support material having a reduced specific corrosion rate for an electrode, comprising a carbon material having a specific surface area (BET) of 100-600 m2/g and a micropore area of 10-60 m2/g. 
     
     
         2 . The carbon support material of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon material has a specific surface area (BET) of 200-600 m2/g and a micropore area of 25-60 m2/g. 
     
     
         3 . The carbon support material of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon material has a specific surface area (BET) of 300-600 m2/g. 
     
     
         4 . The carbon support material of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon material has a specific surface area (BET) of 300-600 m2/g and a micropore area of 25-60 m2/g. 
     
     
         5 . The carbon support material of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon support material loses 20% or less of its mass in an accelerated test involving a 1.2V potential hold over a 24 hour period at 80° C. 
     
     
         6 . The carbon support material of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon support material has a specific corrosion rate of less than 65%. 
     
     
         7 . The carbon support material of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon material is electrically conductive. 
     
     
         8 . The carbon support material of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon material comprises treated carbon black. 
     
     
         9 . A method for producing a carbon support material having a specific reduced corrosion rate for an electrode, the method comprising
 treating a carbon black with at least one gas selected from the group consisting of oxygen, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, nitrogen dioxide, air, carbon dioxide and steam to produce a carbon material having a specific surface area (BET) of 100-600 m2/g and a micropore area of 10-60 m2/g.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the carbon material has a specific surface area (BET) of 200-600 m2/g and a micropore area of 25-60 m2/g. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the carbon material has a specific surface area (BET) of 300-600 m2/g. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the carbon material has a specific surface area (BET) of 300-600 m2/g and a micropore area of 25-60 m2/g. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the carbon material is electrically conductive. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the carbon black is treated at a temperature between 800° C. and 1100° C. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the carbon black is treated for a time ranging between 30 minutes and 4 hours. 
     
     
         16 . A method of decreasing the specific corrosion rate of a carbon support material for an electrode, the method comprising
 treating a carbon black with at least one gas selected from the group consisting of oxygen, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, nitrogen dioxide, air, carbon dioxide and steam to produce a carbon support material having a specific surface area (BET) of 100-600 m2/g and a micropore area of 10-60 m2/g.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the carbon support material has a specific surface area (BET) of 200-600 m2/g and a micropore area of 25-60 m2/g. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the carbon support material has a specific surface area (BET) of 300-600 m2/g. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the carbon support material has a specific surface area (BET) of 300-600 m2g and a micropore area of 25-60 m2/g. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the carbon support material loses 20% or less of its mass in an accelerated test involving a 1.2V potential hold over a 24 hour period at 80° C. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the carbon support material has a specific corrosion rate of less than 65%. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the carbon material is electrically conductive. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the carbon black is treated at a temperature between 800° C. and 1100° C. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the carbon black is treated for a time ranging between 30 minutes and 4 hours.