Eniricerche S.p.a.

Fuma-Tech Gesellschaft Fur Funktionelle Membranen Und Anlagentechnologie Mbh

Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche

Eni-Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi

Snam S.p.a.

Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe S.r.l. De Nora Electrodi S.p.a.

Eniricherche S.p.a. and Snam S.p.a.

Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc.

Industrie De Nora S.p.a.

Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe Srl

Fumatech Bwt Gmbh

Giulio Alberti

Mario Casciola

Riccardo Vivani

Umberto Costantino

Piergiorgio Zappelli

Roberto Palombari

Francesco Bartoli

Antonio Rossodivita

Francesco Di Gregorio

Monica Pica

Giuseppe Bellussi

Mario G Clerici

Aldo Prevedello

Jacques Roziere

Deborah Jones

Enrico Ramunni

Claudio Valentini

Luciano Bassignani

Bernd Bauer

Ruben Ornelas Jacobo

Umberto Constantino

Chiara Antonini Vitali

Piergiorgio Zapelli

Fabio Marmottini

Carlo Corno

Marinella Malentacchi

Rubén Ornelas Jacobo

Silvia Masci

The invention is based on the preparation of an organic solution of preferably phosphonic acids and tetravalent metals salts, preferably of Zr, Ti, Sn and Ce, in organic solvents, which behaves as a solution of layered tetravalent metals salts, preferably phosphate-phosphonates, which are completely insoluble in the known solvents. This peculiarity allows an easy insertion of particles of the above compounds in the pores of porous membranes, in the matrices of those polymers, which are soluble in the same organic solvents, as well as in the membrane/electrode interfaces of fuel cells. The use of tetravalent metals salts, preferably zirconium phosphate-phosphonates, possessing high proton conductivity (in some cases higher than 10S cm) allows the preparation of impregnated porous membranes and of nano-polymeric membranes combining good mechanical properties, and/or reduced permeability to gaseous species, with good proton conductivity. These membranes can therefore be employed in fuel cells even at temperatures higher than 80&#xb0; C. These membranes also possess a high catalytic activity and can therefore be employed in catalytic membrane reactors.

Innovative method for the preparation of proton conducting nanopolymeric membranes for use in fuel cells or in catalytic membrane reactors

This invention is based on the preparation of new solid acid triphosphates with compositions of the general formula M(IV)(HPO4)(H2PO4)2, where M(IV) is a tetravalent metal or a mixture of tetravalent metals. These compounds are insoluble in water the greater part of most organic solvents. They show a high non-water assisted protonic conductivity (about 0.01-0.04 S/cm at 100&#xb0; C. and a relative humidity lower than 1%). These compounds can be used as proton conduction separators in electrochemical devices, to operate at low relative humidity values, as for example in different fuel cells, protonic pumps for electrochemical hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of organic compounds, or for hydrogen production from hydrogenated organic compounds by electro-reforming, or also for removing hydrogen from equilibrium reactions. These compounds can also be used in electrochemical sensors, in super capacitors and as acid catalysts in non-aqueous or anhydrous gaseous phases.

Tetravalent metal acid triphosphates

The invention is relative to a membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cells, comprising a state of the art ion-exchange polymeric membrane and state of the art gas diffusion electrodes, whose electrochemical properties are modified through the addition of a hydrophilic component localized in correspondence to one or both the electrodic interfaces and/or one or both the external surfaces of the membrane. The modified membrane-electrode assembly is characterized by high protonic conductivity and high efficiency even in the presence of small quantities of carbon monoxide, or of other contaminants contained in the fuel, even at temperatures as low as 100&#xb0; C., being also suitable for medium temperature (100&#x2013;160&#xb0; C.) operation at relative humidity level lower than saturation.

Membrane-electrode assembly for polymeric membrane fuel cell

The invention provides composite membrane materials comprising a polymer of the state of art uniformly filled with a zirconium phosphate, preferably &#x3b1;-zirconium phosphate or zirconium phosphate sulfoarylenphosphonate particels. The composite membrane materials are preferably prepared starting from a solution of a polymer of the state of art and from a colloidal dispersion of &#x3b1;-zirconium phosphate or a zirconium phosphate sulfoarylenphosphonate. The colloidal particles are transferred into the solution of the polymer preferably by mixing the dispersion with the solution or by means of phase transfer. The membrane material is preferably obtained by removing the solvent by evaporation or by a suitable non-solvent. Besides the composite membrane materials and the preparation methods, the use of the above membrane materials is claimed as ionomeric membranes with high overall performance in high tempreature, especially hydrogen, and in indirect methanol fuel cells and with decreased methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cells.

Ion conducting composite membrane materials containing an optionally modified zirconium phosphate dispersed in a polymeric matrix, method for preparation of the membrane material and its use

Solid mesoporous crystalline composition of a pyrophosphate-phosphate of a tetravalent metal, with a high surface area and narrow distribution of the mesopores, having formula (I):

Mesoporous crystalline composition with a high surface area of a

Solid mesoporous crystalline composition of diphospho-nate-phosphite of a tetravalent metal, with a limited distribution of mesopores having the formula

Mesoporous crystalline acid composition of a diphosphonate-phosphite of

A sensor in completely solid state for determining the concentration of a gas, in particular of hydrogen, is disclosed, which is essentially constituted by electrodes separated by a protonic conductor in the solid state, in which the solid-state reference electrode is constituted by a metal hydride, or a metal-alloy hydride.

Solid-state sensor for determining the concentration of a gas with a

A solid-state sensor device for determining the concentration of gases which can react with hydrogen, in particular oxygen, is disclosed, which is essentially composed of a solid-state protonic conductor put into contact, at one of its sides, with a reference electrode and, at its other side, with a composite electrode (sensor electrode), constituted by a catalytic material into contact with a hydride of a metal or of a metal alloy.

Solid state sensor device for the determination of the concentration of

A tetravalent metal diphosphonate-phosphite composition definable by the following general formula:

Tetravalent metal diphosphonate-phosphite composition in microporous

The present invention discloses a compound comprising a diphosphonate/phosphite of a tetravalent metal:

Mesoporous crystalline solid compound of a diphosphonate/phosphite of a

A solid-state sensor for determining the concentration of gases which can react with hydrogen, in particular, of oxygen, which includes a solid-state proton conductor into contact: on the one side, with a reference electrode, constituted in its turn by a metal hydride or a metal alloy, and on the other side with an electrode which catalyses the reaction of the gas to be detected, with said sensor being connected with a power feed system which supplies current or voltage impulses, and with a system which detects the value of potential after each impulse.

Solid-state sensor for the determination of concentration of gases which

Disclosed is a solid catalyst functionalized with sulfonic groups, containing from 20 to 99% by weight of silica, with the residual percentage being definable by means of the formula:

Solid catalyst functionalized with sulfonic groups, process for

The invention relates to a zirconium phosphate in particles having sizes comprised within the range of from 1 to 100 .mu.m, a lamellar structure with interlayer distance, in the anhydrous state, comprised within the range of from 7.9 to 8.2 .ANG. and a surface area comprised within the range of from 9 to 20 m.sup.2 /g. The method consists in altering the lamellar structure of a zirconium phosphate with layer structure of alpha type by intercalating into it an organic substance containing a proton-acceptor group and water and by a treatment with ultrasounds, in regenerating the hydrogen form of said zirconium phosphate by an acid and in washing the same with diluted acids and/or water.

Zirconium phosphate and method for its preparation

Ion exchange inorganic films made up of alpha-type or gamma-type layered structure insoluble acid salts of tetravalent metals or their salt forms, or their intercalated forms or their organic derivatives containing polar groups. A process for the preparation of said films.

Ion exchange inorganic films made up of layered structure insoluble acid

Mixed phosphorous or arsenic salts of tetravalent metals are provided having the general formula M(HAO.sub.4).sub.2-x (HAO.sub.3).sub.x.nH.sub.2 O, where M is Zr, Ti or Hf, A is phosphorus or arsenic, x is between 0.05 and 1.95, and n is 0 to 6. The salts are highly stable and have wide potential application in the fields of ion exchange, catalysis, intercalation of molecules, solid electrolytes, and chromatography. The salts are prepared by reacting a halide, oxyhalide, nitrate, sulphate, phosphate or oxide of the tetravalent metal, preferably in an aqueous medium, with at least two oxygenated acids of phosphorus and/or arsenic.

Growing community of inventors

Perugia, Italy

Giulio Alberti