Giner, Inc.

The State University of New York

Plug Power Inc.

Hui Xu

Brian Rasimick

Gang Wu

Cortney K Mittelsteadt

Jarrod D Milshtein

Katherine E Harrison

Winfield Greene

Derek J Strasser

Shuo Ding

Allison Stocks

Mario Moreira

Shengwen Liu

Judith Lattimer

Mengjie Chen

Fan Yang

Andrew Sweet

Kailash Patil

Atomically dispersed platinum-group metal-free catalyst and method for synthesizing the same. According to one embodiment, the catalyst is made by a method in which, in a first step, an Mn-doped ZIF-8 catalyst precursor is prepared by reacting a first solution comprising zinc nitrate hexahydrate and manganese chloride dissolved in an acid/water solution with a second solution comprising 2-methylimidazole dissolved in water. Then, in a second step, the Mn-doped ZIF-8 catalyst precursor is thermally activated, i.e., carbonized, to form an Mn—N—C catalyst. Preferably, the thermal activation is performed in a multistep fashion, first at a lower temperature of about 800° C. and then at a higher temperature of about 1100° C. After carbonization, the catalyst material may optionally be subjected to an absorption process, followed by a second thermal activation. The absorption process may involve dispersing the catalyst material in a solution of manganese chloride and urea in hydrochloric acid and isopropanol.

Atomically dispersed platinum-group metal-free catalysts and method for synthesis of the same

A composite membrane that is suitable for use in a molten alkaline water electrolyzer. In one embodiment, the composite membrane includes a porous support, the porous support being in the form of a matrix of metal oxide particles randomly arranged to form a plurality of tortuous pores. The composite membrane also includes molten electrolyte filling the pores of the porous support, the molten electrolyte having hydroxide ion conductivity. The molten electrolyte may be a single species of an alkali hydroxide or of an alkaline earth hydroxide. Alternatively, the molten electrolyte may be a eutectic or non-eutectic mixture of two or more species of alkali hydroxides or alkaline earth hydroxides. The composite membrane may further include one or more additives, such as a coarsening inhibitor, a crack attenuator, and a reinforcing material. The composite material may be used to make a molten alkaline membrane water electrolyzer with high electrical efficiencies.

High-temperature alkaline water electrolysis using a composite electrolyte support membrane

Atomically dispersed platinum-group metal-free catalyst and method for synthesizing the same. According to one embodiment, the catalyst is made by a method in which, in a first step, a metal oxide/zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF) composite is formed by combining (i) nanoparticles of an oxide of at least one of iron, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and copper, (ii) a hydrated zinc salt, and (iii) an imidazole. Then, in a second step, the metal oxide/ZIF composite is thermally activated, i.e., carbonized, to form an M-N—C catalyst. Thereafter, the M-N—C catalyst may be mixed with a quantity of ammonium chloride, and then the M-N—C/NHCl mixture may be pyrolyzed. The foregoing NHCl treatment may improve the intrinsic activity of the catalyst. Then, a thin layer of nitrogen-doped carbon may be added to NHCl-treated M-N—C catalyst by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Such CVD treatment may improve the stability of the catalyst.

Anion exchange membrane and methods of making and using the same. In one embodiment, the anion exchange membrane may be made by a method that includes a two-step polymerization. In the first step, an α-olefin monomer containing a pendant halide, such as 8-bromo-1-octene, may be polymerized by Ziegler-Natta polymerization to form a first polymer portion, the first polymer portion being a homopolymer. In the second step, the polymerization is charged with a non-functionalized α-olefin monomer, such as ethylene, thereby forming a second polymer portion, the second polymer being a copolymer made up predominantly of the non-functionalized olefin monomer. If desired, a small amount of an α-olefin monomer containing a crosslinking functionality may be included in the first and/or second steps. Following the two-step polymerization, the polymer is fabricated into a thin film. Thereafter, the thin film may be functionalized by replacing the pendant halides with pendant cations.

Anion exchange membrane and methods of making and using the same

An anode catalyst suitable for use in an electrolyzer. The anode catalyst includes a support and a plurality of catalyst particles disposed on the support. The support may include a plurality of metal oxide or doped metal oxide particles. The catalyst particles, which may be iridium, iridium oxide, ruthenium, ruthenium oxide, platinum, and/or platinum black particles, may be arranged to form one or more aggregations of catalyst particles on the support. Each of the aggregations of catalyst particles may include at least 10 particles, wherein each of the at least 10 particles is in physical contact with at least one other particle. The support particles and their associated catalyst particles may be dispersed in a binder.

Anode catalyst suitable for use in an electrolyzer

A composite membrane that is suitable for use in an electrochemical cell, an electrochemical cell including the composite membrane, and a method of making the composite membrane. In one embodiment, the composite membrane includes a porous support and a solid electrolyte. The porous support is a unitary structure made of a polymer that is non-conductive to ions. The porous support is shaped to include a plurality of straight-through pores. The solid electrolyte has alkali ion conductivity and preferably completely fills at least some of the pores of the porous support. A variety of techniques may be used to load the solid electrolyte into the pores. According to one technique, the solid electrolyte is melted and then poured into the pores of the porous support. Upon cooling, the electrolyte re-solidifies, forming a monolithic structure within the pores of the porous support.

Composite membrane comprising solid electrolyte, method of making said composite membrane, and electrochemical cell comprising said composite membrane

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Acton, MA, United States of America

Hui Xu