Water oxidation catalysts and methods of use thereof

US9833777B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EMORY UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

• Craig L. Hill · Atlanta, US
• Yurii V. Gueletii · Decatur, US
• Djamaladdin G. Musaev · Atlanta, US
• Qiushi Yin · Tucker, US
• Bogdan Botar · Emmelshausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 23, 2014
• Grant date: Dec 5, 2017
• Expiry date: May 19, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Homogeneous water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) for the oxidation of water to produce hydrogen ions and oxygen, and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. In a preferred embodiment, the WOC is a polyoxometalate WOC which is hydrolytically stable, oxidatively stable, and thermally stable. The WOC oxidized waters in the presence of an oxidant. The oxidant can be generated photochemically, using light, such as sunlight, or electrochemically using a positively biased electrode. The hydrogen ions are subsequently reduced to form hydrogen gas, for example, using a hydrogen evolution catalyst (HEC). The hydrogen gas can be used as a fuel in combustion reactions and/or in hydrogen fuel cells. The catalysts described herein exhibit higher turn over numbers, faster turn over frequencies, and/or higher oxygen yields than prior art catalysts.