TECHNOLOGY BRIEF

CO Tolerant, Low Platinum, Pt-Ru Fuel Cell Electrocatalyst

For further information, contact Christine Brakel

Description: This new Low-Platinum Loading, High CO Tolerance, Pt-Ru Electrocatalyst is for use in cost-efficient PEM fuel cells optimized for reformate hydrogen fuel. The new catalyst surmounts several shortcomings of current formulations - e.g., their inadequate activity, susceptibility to CO poisoning and expensive, high Pt loadings.

Commercial and Technical Merit: Dr. Radoslav Adzic of the BNL Materials and Chemical Science Division has demonstrated a new method of depositing Pt clusters only on the surface of Ru nanoparticles. This surface treatment, which allows almost every Pt atom to be available for catalysis, offers significant improvements over conventional bimetallic PEMFC catalysts which subsume many Pt atoms within the alloy particle.

Competitive Advantage: The new nanoparticle improves catalysis and confers CO tolerance while reducing Pt use by as much as 3-10 times. As such, dramatic performance increases are anticipated for fuel cell systems using BNL's new catalyst.

Development Status: The new catalytic system has been successfully demonstrated in the lab and further improvements are contemplated with continuing R&D. BNL is now offering licenses to manufacture this catalyst and hopes to enter into a cooperative research agreement that will ensure field deployment of the new catalyst in a state-of-the-art fuel cell.

Inventors: Radoslav Adzic

Patent Status: U.S. Patent 6,670,301

License Status: Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing