Piotr S Zelenay

US Patent:

7014931, Mar 21, 2006

Filed:

Dec 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/317654

Inventors:

Yimin Zhu - Los Alamos NM, US
Piotr Zelenay - Los Alamos NM, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

H01M 8/18

US Classification:

429 19, 429 30, 429 33, 429 40, 429 41, 429 44, 502101

Abstract:

A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) having a methanol fuel supply, oxidant supply, and its membrane electrode assembly (MEA) formed of an anode electrode and a cathode electrode with a membrane therebetween, a methanol oxidation catalyst adjacent the anode electrode and the membrane, an oxidant reduction catalyst adjacent the cathode electrode and the membrane, comprises an oxidant reduction catalyst layer of a platinum-chromium alloy so that oxidation at the cathode of methanol that crosses from the anode through the membrane to the cathode is reduced with a concomitant increase of net electrical potential at the cathode electrode.

US Patent:

7101635, Sep 5, 2006

Filed:

Sep 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/260780

Inventors:

Yimin Zhu - Los Alamos NM, US
Piotr Zelenay - Los Alamos NM, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

H01M 8/18

US Classification:

429 19, 429 30, 429 33, 429 40, 429 41, 429 44, 502101

Abstract:

A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) having a methanol fuel supply, oxidant supply, and its membrane electrode assembly (MEA) formed of an anode electrode and a cathode electrode with a membrane therebetween, a methanol oxidation catalyst adjacent the anode electrode and the membrane, an oxidant reduction catalyst adjacent the cathode electrode and the membrane, comprises an oxidant reduction catalyst layer of PtCr/C so that oxidation at the cathode of methanol that crosses from the anode through the membrane to the cathode is reduced with a concomitant increase of net electrical potential at the cathode electrode.

US Patent:

7550223, Jun 23, 2009

Filed:

Oct 2, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/542539

Inventors:

Piotr Zelenay - Los Alamos NM, US
Rajesh Bashyam - Los Alamos NM, US

Assignee:

Los Alamos National Security, LLC - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

H01M 4/00
H01M 8/10
H01M 4/88
B01J 31/00
B01J 23/00

US Classification:

429 43, 429 30, 502101, 502152, 502182, 502185

Abstract:

A metal-polymer-carbon composite catalyst for use as a cathode electrocatalyst in fuel cells. The catalyst includes a heteroatomic polymer; a transition metal linked to the heteroatomic polymer by one of nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, and a recast ionomer dispersed throughout the heteroatomic polymer-carbon composite. The method includes forming a heteroatomic polymer-carbon composite and loading the transition metal onto the composite. The invention also provides a method of making a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell that includes the metal-polymer-carbon composite catalyst.

US Patent:

7575824, Aug 18, 2009

Filed:

Jul 26, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/493259

Inventors:

Yu Seung Kim - Los Alamos NM, US
Jong-Ho Choi - Los Alamos NM, US
Piotr Zelenay - Los Alamos NM, US

Assignee:

Los Alamos National Security, LLC - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

H01M 8/00
C25F 7/00

US Classification:

429 13, 205704

Abstract:

A method of removing contaminants from a fuel cell catalyst electrode. The method includes providing a getter electrode and a fuel cell catalyst electrode having at least one contaminant to a bath and applying a voltage sufficient to drive the contaminant from the fuel cell catalyst electrode to the getter electrode. Methods of removing contaminants from a membrane electrode assembly of a fuel cell and of improving performance of a fuel cell are also provided.

US Patent:

7588857, Sep 15, 2009

Filed:

Dec 5, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/295361

Inventors:

Nicolas Alonso-Vante - Buxerolles, FR
Piotr Zelenay - Los Alamos NM, US
Jong-Ho Choi - Los Alamos NM, US
Andrzej Wieckowski - Champaign IL, US
Dianxue Cao - Urbana IL, US

Assignee:

Los Alamos National Security, LLC - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

H01M 4/00

US Classification:

429 44, 429 42

Abstract:

A methanol-tolerant cathode catalyst and a membrane electrode assembly for fuel cells that includes such a cathode catalyst. The cathode catalyst includes a support having at least one transition metal in elemental form and a chalcogen disposed on the support. Methods of making the cathode catalyst and membrane electrode assembly are also described.

US Patent:

7781364, Aug 24, 2010

Filed:

Aug 5, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/536198

Inventors:

Piotr Zelenay - Los Alamos NM, US
Jong-Ho Choi - Los Alamos NM, US
Nicolas Alonso-Vante - France, FR
Andrzej Wieckowski - Champaign IL, US
Dianxue Cao - Urbana IL, US

Assignee:

Los Alamos National Security, LLC - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

B01J 27/045
H01M 4/02
H01M 8/10

US Classification:

502223, 429524, 429525, 429526, 429527, 429530, 429485

Abstract:

A methanol-tolerant cathode catalyst and a membrane electrode assembly for fuel cells that includes such a cathode catalyst. The cathode catalyst includes a support having at least one transition metal in elemental form and a chalcogen disposed on the support. Methods of making the cathode catalyst and membrane electrode assembly are also described.

US Patent:

7851399, Dec 14, 2010

Filed:

May 31, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/443809

Inventors:

Jong-Ho Choi - Los Alamos NM, US
Piotr Zelenay - Los Alamos NM, US
Andrzej Wieckowski - Champaign IL, US
Dianxue Cao - Harabin, CN

Assignee:

Los Alamos National Security, LLC - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

H01M 4/88
H01M 4/90
B05D 5/12

US Classification:

502216, 429523, 429524, 429526

Abstract:

A method of making an electrode catalyst material using aqueous solutions. The electrode catalyst material includes a support comprising at least one transition metal and at least one chalcogen disposed on a surface of the transition metal. The method includes reducing a metal powder, mixing the metal powder with an aqueous solution containing at least one inorganic compound of the chalcogen to form a mixture, and providing a reducing agent to the mixture to form nanoparticles of the electrode catalyst. The electrode catalyst may be used in a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell.

US Patent:

8518608, Aug 27, 2013

Filed:

May 11, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/105714

Inventors:

Gang Wu - Los Alamos NM, US
Piotr Zelenay - Los Alamos NM, US

Assignee:

Los Alamos National Security, LLC - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

H01M 4/88
H01M 4/90
B82Y 30/00
B82Y 40/00
B01J 21/18
B01J 23/74
H01M 8/10

US Classification:

429535, 429527, 977846, 977847, 977745, 502185

Abstract:

A process for preparing a durable non-precious metal oxygen reduction electrocatalyst involves heat treatment of a ball-milled mixture of polyaniline and multiwalled carbon nanotubes in the presence of a Fe species. The catalyst is more durable than catalysts that use carbon black supports. Performance degradation was minimal or absent after 500 hours of operation at constant cell voltage of 0. 40 V.