Abstract:
Process is disclosed for the hydrogenation of a compound comprising an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group to form a compound comprising an allyl alcohol group, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, hydrogen gas and an inorganic base in an aqueous solvent, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst is an iron-, ruthenium- or osmium-containing complex.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a metallocenyl compound of formula (I). R a , R b , R c , R d , R e , R f , M, m, n, j, k, Y and Z and * are as described in the specification. The invention also provides a process for the preparation of the complexes, a process for increasing the optical purity of a compound of formula (II) and a process for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of a metallocenyl compound of formula (V) to a metallocenyl compound of formula (IV).
Abstract:
The present invention provides a system for the manufacture of membrane electrode assemblies, comprising: a first carriage traversable along a first track, the first carriage having a support platform; a second carriage traversable along a second track, the second carriage having a support platform; sheet supplying means for supplying sheets comprising a gas diffusion layer onto the support platforms of the carriages; and supply means for supplying a continuous web comprising an ion-conducting membrane between at least a portion of the first and second tracks, wherein the system is arranged to align the first and second carriages either side of the continuous web with the support platforms of the first and second carriages facing the continuous web, whereby the system is suitable for adhering sheets carried thereby to opposite sides of the continuous web in an aligned configuration.
Abstract:
An electrocatalyst material comprising: (i) a support material comprising a plurality of individual support particles or aggregates; (ii) first particles comprising a first metal and an alloying metal; and (iii) second particles consisting of a second metal or a second metal oxide, wherein the second metal is platinum or iridium; wherein each individual support particle or aggregate has dispersed thereon first particles and second particles, characterised in that the mean average particle size of the second particles is smaller than the mean average particle size of the first particles is disclosed. The electrocatalyst material has particular use in an electrode, such as the cathode, of an electrochemical cell, such as a fuel cell.
Abstract:
A reinforced ion-conducting membrane comprises a planar reinforcing component which comprises a porous polymer material; an ion-conducting component embedded in at least a region of the planar reinforcing component, which ion-conducting component comprises an ion-conducting polymer material; and linking groups which are chemically bonded to both the planar reinforcing component and the ion-conducting component. The reinforced ion-conducting membrane is useful as the membrane in a membrane-electrode assembly for example as used in fuel cells.
Abstract:
A method for the manufacture of an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst, the method comprising; providing a metal organic framework (MOF) material having a specific internal pore volume of 0.7 cm 3 g -1 or greater; providing a source of iron and/or cobalt; pyrolysing the MOF material together with the source of iron and/or cobalt to form the catalyst, wherein the MOF material comprises nitrogen and/or the MOF material is pyrolysed together with a source of nitrogen and the source of iron and/or cobalt is disclosed.
Abstract:
MEMBRANE An electrolyte membrane comprising: (i) a porous mat of nanofibres, wherein the nanofibres are composed of a non-ionically conducting heterocyclic-based polymer, the heterocyclic-based polymer comprising basic functional groups and being soluble in organic solvent; and (ii) an ion-conducting polymer which is a partially- or fully-fluorinated sulphonic acid polymer; wherein the porous mat is essentially fully impregnated with ion-conducting polymer, and wherein the thickness of the porous mat in the electrolyte membrane is distributed across at least 80% of the thickness of the electrolyte membrane is disclosed. Such a membrane is of use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell or an electrolyser.
Abstract:
A process for the manufacture of a catalyst-coated membrane-seal assembly, said process comprising the steps of: (i) providing a carrier material; (ii-i) forming a first layer, said first layer being formed by: (a) depositing a first catalyst component onto the carrier material such that the first catalyst component is deposited in discrete regions; (b) drying the first layer; (ii-ii) forming a second layer, said second layer being formed by: (a) depositing a first seal component, such that the first seal component provides a picture frame pattern having a continuous region and void regions, the continuous region comprising second seal component and the void regions being free from second seal component; (b) depositing a first ionomer component onto the first layer, such that the first ionomer component is deposited in discrete regions; and (c) drying the second layer; wherein the void regions of the first seal component are centrally positioned over the discrete regions of the first ionomer component; wherein the discrete regions of the first ionomer component are centrally positioned over the discrete regions of the first catalyst component; and wherein steps (ii-ii)(a) and (ii-ii)(b) are carried out in either order; (iii) removing the carrier material.; is disclosed.
Abstract:
A process for the manufacture of a reinforced membrane-seal assembly, said process comprising the steps of: (i) providing a carrier material; (ii) providing a planar reinforcing component having one or more first regions comprising pores and a second region comprising pores, the first regions being patches and non-continuous and the second region surrounding the first regions and being continuous; (iii) depositing an ion-conducting component; (iv) drying the ion-conducting component; (v) depositing a seal component; (vi) drying the seal component (vii) removing the carrier material; wherein ion-conducting component fills the pores in the first regions and seal component fills the pores in the second region and wherein steps (ii), (iii) and (v) can be carried out in any order, wherein step (iv) is carried out subsequent to step (iii) and wherein step (vi) is carried out subsequent to step (v) and wherein steps (iv) and (vi) are carried out subsequent to step (ii) is disclosed. Also disclosed is a reinforced membrane-seal assembly prepared by the process of the invention.
Abstract:
An ion-conducting membrane comprising a polymer component and a macrocyclic compound, wherein the macrocyclic compound is functionalised with one or more ion-conducting groups is disclosed. The membrane is suitable for use in a fuel cell.