Catalyst material for fuel cell

A method of forming a catalyst material, the method comprising:

• coating agglomerates of catalyst support particles with an ionomer material, the coating of the agglomerates of catalyst support particles including mixing the catalyst support particles, the ionomer material, and sodium bicarbonate and establishing a first predetermined pH level of the mixture;
• after the coating of the agglomerates of catalyst support particles with the ionomer material, depositing by chemical infiltration a catalyst metal precursor onto peripheral surfaces of the agglomerates of catalyst support particles, the depositing including mixing the coated agglomerates of catalyst support particles with chloroplatinic acid and establishing a second predetermined pH level of the mixture such that a ratio of the first predetermined pH level to the second predetermined pH level is between 1.3 and 1.6;
• and
• chemically reducing the catalyst metal precursor to form catalyst metal such that a majority of the catalyst metal resides on the peripheral surfaces of the agglomerates of catalyst support particles, the catalyst material comprising the ionomer material, the agglomerates of catalyst support particles and the catalyst metal.