Nanostructured catalyst supports

Abstract

The present invention relates to SiC nanostructures, including SiC nanopowder, SiC nanowires, and composites of SiC nanopowder and nanowires, which can be used as catalyst supports in membrane electrode assemblies and in fuel cells. The present invention also relates to composite catalyst supports comprising nanopowder and one or more inorganic nanowires for a membrane electrode assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A catalyst support for a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell power source, comprising one or more SiC nanostructures, wherein the SiC nanostructures have at least one metal catalyst disposed thereon, wherein the SiC nanostructures comprise SiC nanopowder, wherein the SiC nanopowder is cross-linked by graphene sheets. 
     
     
       2. The catalyst support of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more nanowires comprising RuO 2 , SiC, GaN, TiO 2 , SnO 2 , WC x , MoC x , ZrC, WN x , or MoN x . 
     
     
       3. The catalyst support of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst metal comprises one or more of Pt, Au, Pd, Ru, Re, Rh, Os, Ir, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, V, Cr, Mo, W, and alloys or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       4. The catalyst support of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst metal comprises nanoparticles having a diameter less than about 10 nm. 
     
     
       5. The catalyst support of  claim 1 , further comprising a proton conducting polymer in contact with the SiC nanopowder. 
     
     
       6. The catalyst support of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane electrode assembly is a component in a hydrogen fuel cell or a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). 
     
     
       7. The catalyst support of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst metal comprises PtRu nanoparticles. 
     
     
       8. A catalyst support for a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell, comprising one or more SiC nanostructures, wherein the SiC nanostructures have at least one metal catalyst disposed thereon, wherein the SiC nanostructures comprise a composite of SiC nanopowder and SiC nanowires, and wherein the nanopowder and the nanowires are cross-linked by graphene sheets. 
     
     
       9. A catalyst support for a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell comprising a composite of SiC nanopowder and inorganic nanowires, wherein at least one of the SiC nanopowder and the inorganic nanowires have at least one metal catalyst disposed thereon, and wherein the SiC nanopowder and the inorganic nanowires are cross-linked by graphene sheets. 
     
     
       10. The catalyst support of  claim 9 , wherein the nanowires comprise RuO 2 , SiC, GaN, TiO 2 , SnO 2 , WC x , MoC x , ZrC, WN x , or MoN x  nanowires. 
     
     
       11. The catalyst support of  claim 9 , wherein the catalyst metal comprises one or more of Pt, Au, Pd, Ru, Re, Rh, as As, Ir, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, V, Cr, Mo, W, and alloys or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       12. The catalyst support of chum  9 , wherein the catalyst metal comprises nanoparticles having a diameter less than about 10 nm. 
     
     
       13. The catalyst support of  claim 9 , further comprising a proton conducting polymer in contact with the SiC nanopowder and nanowires. 
     
     
       14. The catalyst support of  claim 9 , wherein the membrane electrode assembly is a component in a hydrogen fuel cell or a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). 
     
     
       15. The catalyst support of  claim 9 , wherein the catalyst metal comprises Pt nanoparticles. 
     
     
       16. The catalyst support of claim 1, wherein the power source is a fuel cell. 
     
     
       17. The catalyst support of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery.