The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 04, 2011
Filed:
May. 21, 2008
Siu-tung Yau, Solon, OH (US);
Munir H. Nayfeh, Urbana, IL (US);
Gang Wang, Lowell, MA (US);
Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
The invention provides the use of silicon particles as redox catalyst, an electrochemical device and method thereof. As electrocatalyst, the silicon particles catalyze a redox reaction such as oxidization of the redox reactant such as renewable fuels e.g. methanol, ethanol and glucose. The device such as a fuel cell comprises a redox reactant and a catalytic composition comprising silicon nanoparticles. The silicon particles catalyze the redox reaction on an electrode such as anode in the device. In preferred embodiments, the electrocatalysis is dramatically improved under low illuminance such as in darkness. The invention can be widely used in applications related to for example a fuel cell, a sensor, an electrochemical reactor, and a memory.