US Patent 8211593 - Low platinum fuel cell using nanostructured electrodes

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8211593.html

Platinum is one of the most promising materials for fuel cell catalysts but the high cost makes its use problematic on a large scale. This patent from Intematix Corporation includes some basic claims for catalyst coated nanoparticles in which less material is necessary for the catalyst resulting in reduced cost. Claim 1 reads:

1. A composition comprising a substrate bearing nanoparticles,

wherein the nanoparticles are coated with an ionomer,

wherein the nanoparticles are coated with a substantially continuous thin film comprising a platinum alloy, and

wherein the alloy contains platinum, vanadium, nickel, and cobalt.