Tungsten-based electrocatalyst and fuel cell containing same
The catalyst of this invention is a non-stoichiometric tungsten compound, H 0.53 WO 3 , which may be used as both the anode and cathode electrocatalyst for acid-style low-temperature fuel cells. A fuel cell using the tungsten-based electrocatalyst as both the anode and cathode has been constructed and operated with a hydrogen fuel and an air oxidant.
1. A fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode wherein the anode and cathode are comprised of an electrocatalyst which consists essentially of a hydrogen tungsten bronze-based electrocatalyst, and wherein neither the anode nor the cathode comprises a platinum group metal.
2. The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen tungsten bronze-based electrocatalyst is H 0.53 WO 3 dispersed on a carbon black support.
3. The fuel cell of claim 2 wherein the electrocatalyst contains about 20% tungsten by weight.
4. The fuel cell of claim 2 wherein the anode and cathode are separated by a polymer membrane.
5. The fuel cell of claim 4 wherein the polymer membrane is a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer.
6. The fuel cell of claim 5 wherein the fuel cell uses hydrogen as a fuel and air as an oxidant.
7. The fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell is a PEM-type fuel cell.