US 12,132,210 B1
Catalysts for oxygen evolution reactions
Shaun M Debow, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (US); Brendan G DeLacy, Havre de Grace, MD (US); and Yi Rao, Logan, UT (US)
Assigned to United States Army as Represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Chemical Biological Center, APG, MD (US)
Filed on Sep. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/480,346.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/082,194, filed on Sep. 23, 2020.
Int. Cl. H01M 4/90 (2006.01); C25B 11/091 (2021.01); H01M 4/86 (2006.01); H01M 4/88 (2006.01); H01M 12/06 (2006.01); H01G 11/30 (2013.01)
CPC H01M 4/90 (2013.01) [C25B 11/091 (2021.01); H01M 4/8657 (2013.01); H01M 4/8825 (2013.01); H01M 4/8853 (2013.01); H01M 4/8882 (2013.01); H01M 12/06 (2013.01); H01G 11/30 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of preparing an electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reactions, the method comprising:
synthesizing MXene by etching a Ti3AlC2 MAX phase in a mixture of HCl and LiF, adding Ti3AlC2 while stirring in an ice bath, and etching at 35° C. for 24 hours to produce Ti3C2, washing the Ti3C2, and drying the Ti3C2 under vacuum;
synthesizing an earth-abundant metal and a layered double hydroxide (LDH), wherein the earth-abundant metal is selected from the group consisting of nanoparticles of Fe, Co, and a combination thereof, the synthesizing the earth-abundant metal and the LDH comprising dissolving Co(NO3)2·6H2O, Fe(NO3)3·9H2O, and urea in deionized water and dimethylformamide to form a second solution;
mixing the MXene and the earth-abundant metal and the layered double hydroxide to form a combined solution;
performing a solvothermal, hydrothermal, or electrodeposition process on the combined solution, the solvothermal or hydrothermal processes being performed at 120° C. for 12 hours;
centrifuging the combined solution to separate solids from liquids in the combined solution; and
drying the solids to form an electrocatalyst powder.