Platinum-aluminum alloy catalyst for fuel cells and method of its production and use

US5767036A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Degussa AG · DE

Inventors

• Andreas Freund · Kleinostheim, DE
• Thomas Lehmann · Langenselbold, DE
• Karl-Anton Starz · Rodenbach, DE
• Gerhard Heinz · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Robert Schwarz · Rodenbach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 8, 1996
• Grant date: Jun 16, 1998
• Expiry date: May 8, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A catalyst for use in a fuel cell containing a platinum-aluminum alloy on a conductive carbon carrier, wherein the atomic ratio of platinum to aluminum is from 80:20 to 60:40 and the alloy is present on the carbon carrier in carbidized form with the structure of platinum-aluminum carbide Pt.sub.3 AlC.sub.0.5. Also disclosed are multimetallic alloy catalysts for use as electrode catalysts in fuel cells. Catalysts with high activity and stability are obtained on the basis of carbidized platinum-aluminum alloy catalysts by adding alloying elements of the groups VIB, VIIB, VIII and IB of the Periodic Table of Elements.