Patent ID: 8221610

Claim:
An electrochemical method for producing hydrogen by applying an electric current to ammonia, ethanol, or combinations thereof, causing a reaction, the method comprising: providing an anode comprising a layered electrocatalyst, wherein the layered electrocatalyst comprises a carbon support integrated with a conductive metal; at least one active metal layer comprising platinum, or platinum and iridium at least partially deposited on the carbon support, wherein the at least one active metal layer is active to ethanol, ammonia, or combinations thereof, and wherein the at least one active metal layer is perforated and has regions of varying thickness with at least one region having a thickness ranging from 10 nanometers to 10 microns; and at least one second metal layer comprising at least one of palladium, rhodium, or ruthenium deposited on the carbon support, wherein the at least one second metal layer is active to OH adsorption and inactive to the target species, and wherein the at least one second metal layer has regions of varying thickness with at least one region having a thickness ranging from 10 nanometers to 10 microns; providing a cathode comprising a conductor; disposing a basic electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; flowing a fuel to the basic electrolyte; and applying an electric current to the anode causing oxidation of the fuel, evolving hydrogen at the cathode.