Leached nanocrystalline materials process for manufacture of the same, and use thereof in the energetic field
US5872074A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 24, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 16, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 24, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S977/779
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Leached nanocrystalline materials having a high specific surface are particularly useful for storing hydrogen or as catalysts or electrocatalysts in the manufacture electrodes, especially for fuel cells. Such materials can be manufactured by preparing a nanocrystalline material consisting of a metastable composite or alloy of at least two different chemical elements. To be nanocrystalline, this material must have a crystalline structure with the grain size lower than 100 nm. Then, the so prepared nanocrystalline material can be subjected to a leaching treatment in order to eliminate partially or totally one of the elements of the composite or alloy. This leaching results in nanocrystalline materials having a porous structure and, thereby, the requested high specific surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.