The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning / Mcgill University

Institut National De La Recherche Scientifique

Other

Jean-Pol Dodelet

Allan S Hay

Michel Lefèvre

Éric Proietti

Frederic Jaouen

Frédéric Jaouen

Nicolas Cunningham

Yeuzhong Meng

A catalyst precursor comprising (A) a microporous support; (B) a non-noble metal precursor; and (C) a pore-filler, wherein the micropores of the microporous support are filled with the pore-filler and the non-noble metal precursor so that the micropore surface area of the catalyst precursor is substantially smaller than the micropore surface area of the support when the pore-filler and the non-noble metal precursor are absent is provided. Also, a catalyst comprising the above catalyst precursor, wherein the catalyst precursor has been pyrolysed so that the micropore surface area of the catalyst is substantially larger than the micropore surface area of catalyst precursor, with the proviso that the pyrolysis is performed in the presence of a gas that is a nitrogen precursor when the microporous support, the non-noble metal precursor and the pore-filler are not nitrogen precursors is also provided. Methods of producing the catalyst precursor and the catalyst are provided.

Catalyst precursors, catalysts and methods of producing same

A catalyst precursor comprising (A) a microporous support, (B) a non-noble metal precursor, and (C) a pore-filler, wherein the micropores of the microporous support are filled with the pore-filler and the non-noble metal precursor so that the micropore surface area of the catalyst precursor is substantially smaller than the micropore surface area of the support when the pore-filler and the non-noble metal precursor are absent is provided. Also, a catalyst comprising the above catalyst precursor, wherein the catalyst precursor has been pyrolysed so that the micropore surface area of the catalyst is substantially larger than the micropore surface area of catalyst precursor, with the proviso that the pyrolysis is performed in the presence of a gas that is a nitrogen precursor when the microporous support, the non-noble metal precursor and the pore-filler are not nitrogen precursors is also provided. Methods of producing the catalyst precursor and the catalyst are provided.

The invention relates to an improved composite used as a bipolar separator plate in fuel cells. The composite of the invention comprises a steel substrate having a carbon coating thereon, the carbon coating comprises a carbon layer derived by pyrolysis of an acetylenic polymer having a content of carbon of at least 90%, the carbon layer protects the substrate against corrosion and improves long term contact resistivity, the polymer is soluble at a temperature below 110&deg; C. in an organic solvent, and the carbon layer contacts said steel substrate. A process for preparing the composite according to the invention is also disclosed.

Multi-layers coating for protecting metallic substrates

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Sainte-Julie, Canada

Jean-Pol Dodelet