Reference #: 1670
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for Cu-Ni fuel cell catalysts for dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane.
Background:
On-board storage of H2 in a safe format has limited the use of fuel cells in mobile transportation applications. Cylinders of compressed H2 will be difficult to implement due to potential of sudden and uncontrolled release of high pressure H2 gas. The use of a controlled release of H2 from a H2 carrier chemical such as methylcyclohexane (MCH) circumvents this issue. However, H2 release chemicals must use catalysts to efficiently release H2 into a process gas stream.
Cu-Ni bimetallic catalysts are better than either Cu or Ni catalysts for the catalytic dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane (MCH) to toluene to act as a H2 transfer mechanism for use in portable PEM fuel cells. For the bimetallic catalysts to function properly, both Ni and Cu must be in adjacent, or proximal, contact. Conventional methods of bimetallic catalyst formulations, such as co-impregnation, do not control the placement of both metals. Consequently, all combinations of each metal are formed to give an inferior catalyst.
Invention Description:
This invention incorporates electroless deposition and galvanic displacement to form only Cu-Ni bimetallic catalysts of known composition that are superior to Cu or Ni catalysts as well as bimetallic catalysts that are made from conventional methods.
Potential Applications:
This method can be used in other research laboratories when studying fuel cells in mobile transportation applications allowing for the implementation of compressed H2 cylinders through the use of catalysts made by this method.
Advantages and Benefits:
This method produces a bimetallic catalyst that has superior activity and stability as compared to bimetallic catalysts that are synthesized from conventional methods. Furthermore, this method allows for other analogous bimetals to be made in addition to the Cu-Ni bimetallic catalyst.