CATALYSTS FOR HYDROGEN GENERATION AND FUEL CELLS

摘要

The invention provides a process for producing H2 from a compound of formula (I), (II), (III) or (IV): R1COOH (I); R2OH (II); R3CHO (III); R4NH2 (IV); wherein R1 is H or unsubstituted or substituted C1-10 alkyl; R2 is unsubstituted or substituted C1-10 alkyl; R3 is H or unsubstituted or substituted C1-10 alkyl; R4 is H, unsubstituted or substituted C1-10 alkyl, or C(0)NR5R6; and R5 and R6, which are the same or different, are independently selected from H and unsubstituted or substituted C1-10 alkyl; which process comprises contacting a liquid phase which comprises said compound of formula (I), (II), (III) or (IV) with a catalyst, which catalyst comprises: (a) polymetallic nanoparticles, each of which comprises a first metal and a second metal, which first metal is selected from a Group (9), Group (10), Group (11) or Group (12) d-block metal, and which second metal is other than said first metal, wherein the polymetallic nanoparticles comprise a core which comprises said second metal and a shell surrounding said core, which shell comprises said first metal; or (b) nanoparticles which comprise a metal selected from palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, copper and silver, and which have a mean particle size of less than or equal to 50 nm;_provided that when said compound is a compound of formula (II), the catalyst comprises (a) said polymetallic nanoparticles. Further provided is a catalyst for the production of hydrogen from a compound of formula (I)-(IV) or for the electro-oxidation of a compound of formula (I)-(IV), which catalyst comprises polymetallic nanoparticles, which polymetallic nanoparticles comprise a core and a shell surrounding the core; wherein the shell comprises a first metal which is palladium, and the core comprises a second metal, wherein the second metal is other than palladium, platinum, gold, iron, cobalt, nickel, titanium, tungsten, tantalum, vanadium and niobium. Further provided is a process for producing the catalysts of the invention, and the following uses of the catalysts of the invention: use for the electro-oxidation of a compound of formula (I)-(IV); use for the electro-oxidation of formic acid; use in a fuel cell; use for the electro-oxidation of a compound of formula (I)-IV) in a fuel cell; and use for the electro-oxidation of formic acid in a direct formic acid fuel cell. Further provided is an electrode suitable for use in a fuel cell, comprising a catalyst of the invention, and a fuel cell comprising a catalyst or an electrode of the invention. A process for the electro-oxidation of a compound of formula (I)-(IV) with a catalyst of the invention is also provided.