Conformal thin film of precious metal on support

Abstract

A coated substrate for forming fuel cell catalyst layers includes a plurality of substrate particles, an adhesion layer disposed over the substrate particles, and a precious metal layer disposed over the adhesion layer. The adhesion layer includes a tungsten metal layer. Characteristically, the coated substrate is used in fuel cell applications such as providing the catalyst particles used in the cathode and / or anode catalyst layers.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application Serial No. 61 / 915,731 filed December 13, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. technical field [0003] In at least one aspect, the invention relates to catalyst layers for use in fuel cell applications. Background technique [0004] Fuel cells are used as power sources in many applications. Specifically, fuel cells are proposed to be used in automobiles in place of internal combustion engines. Commonly used fuel cell designs use a solid polymer electrolyte ("SPE") membrane or a proton exchange membrane ("PEM") to provide ion transport between the anode and cathode. [0005] In a fuel cell of the proton exchange membrane type, hydrogen is supplied to the anode as a fuel, and oxygen is supplied to the cathode as an oxidant. Oxygen can be in pure form (O 2 ) or air (O 2 with N 2 mixture). PEM fuel cells t...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Some prior art sputtered films were observed to be non-uniform due to the line-of-sight nature of the sputtering process

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