Tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst and method of making same
AssigneeOsram Sylvania Inc.
InventorsJoel B. Christian, Robert G. Mendenhall
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Abstract
A tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst having high electrochemical activity and its method of making are described. The tungsten-containing catalyst may be formed in situ in a fuel cell after the fuel cell is assembled. The catalyst is formed by a low temperature electrochemical activation of a tungsten-containing precursor which has been deposited on a carbon support
Claims39
A tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst comprising a carbon support having a surface layer containing tungsten, the tungsten-containing catalyst generating a power output which is greater than about 20 percent of a power output of an equivalently prepared platinum catalyst when operating under the same conditions using an electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen.
A tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst comprising a carbon support having a surface layer containing tungsten, the tungsten-containing catalyst in a hydrogen:air PEM fuel cell having a single 5 cm2 cell producing a cell voltage of about 0.75 volts at a 1000 ohm load.
A tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst comprising a carbon support having a surface layer containing tungsten, the tungsten-containing catalyst producing a potential of about 0.25 volts at current densities of between about 2 to about 6 mA/cm2 at a temperature of about 25° C and a pressure of about 1 atmosphere.
A method of making a tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst comprising the steps of:
- (a) depositing a tungsten-containing precursor on a carbon support;
- (b) contacting the support with a solution of an electrolyte;
- (c) applying a voltage to the support sufficient to form the tungsten-containing catalyst.
A method of making a tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst comprising the steps of:
- (a) mixing a carbon black with a solution of a tungsten-containing precursor to form a dispersion;
- (b) drying the dispersion to form a supported catalyst precursor;
- (c) forming an anode electrode using the supported catalyst precursor;
- (d) contacting the catalyst precursor with a solution of an electrolyte;
- and
- (e) applying a voltage to the anode sufficient to form the tungsten-containing catalyst.
A method of regenerating a tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst comprising the steps of:
- a) contacting the catalyst with a fluid-based carbon source;
- b) applying a voltage to the catalyst sufficient to substantially regenerate the catalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.