Synthesis of carbon supported platinum-tungsten electrocatalysts

Abstract

The present teachings are directed toward methods of producing electrocatalyst compositions of platinum and tungsten through the thermal decomposition of carbonyl-containing complexes of the two metals.

1 . An electrocatalyst comprising:
 a metal composition comprising platinum and tungsten,   wherein the platinum comprises platinum derived from a platinum carbonyl complex and the tungsten comprises tungsten derived from a tungsten carbonyl complex, and   wherein the platinum carbonyl complex and the tungsten carbonyl complex are contacted together to form a mixture, a support material is added to the mixture, and the mixture and the support material are heated to form a platinum and tungsten-containing composition.   
     
     
         2 . The electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the tungsten-containing carbonyl complex comprises tungsten hexacarbonyl. 
     
     
         3 . The electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the platinum carbonyl complex and the tungsten carbonyl complex are contacted together in an organic solvent. 
     
     
         4 . The electrocatalyst according to  claim 3 , wherein the organic solvent comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of alcohol, methanol, ethanol and tetrahydrofuran. 
     
     
         5 . The electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the support material comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of a high surface area carbon black, an alumina support material and a zirconia support material. 
     
     
         6 . The electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture and the support material are heated to a temperature ranging from about 500 C to about 800 C in a reducing atmosphere. 
     
     
         7 . The electrocatalyst according to  claim 6 , wherein the mixture and the support material are heated to a temperature of about 700 C. 
     
     
         8 . The electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal composition comprises particles with average particle sizes ranging between about 1 and about 4 nanometers. 
     
     
         9 . The electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal composition comprises particles with average particle sizes ranging between about 1.4 and about 2.8 nanometers. 
     
     
         10 . The electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal composition comprises platinum present in an atomic percentage ranging between about 20 percent and about 95 percent and tungsten present in an atomic percentage ranging between about 5 percent and about 80 percent. 
     
     
         11 . The electrocatalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal composition comprises platinum present in an atomic percentage ranging between about 30 percent and about 45 percent and tungsten present in an atomic percentage ranging between about 55 percent and about 70 percent.