Tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst and method of making same
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
1. A tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst consisting of an electrochemically activated tungstate catalyst supported on a carbon support, 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.
2. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 1 wherein the power output of the tungsten-containing catalyst is greater than about 40% of the power output of the platinum catalyst.
3. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 1 wherein the power output of the tungsten-containing catalyst is greater than about 80% of the power output of the platinum catalyst.
4. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 1 wherein the power output of the tungsten-containing catalyst is about 100% of the power output of the platinum catalyst.
5. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 1 wherein the tungsten-containing catalyst has a tungsten loading of about 20 weight percent tungsten.
6. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 1 wherein the tungsten-containing catalyst has a tungsten loading of about 40 weight percent tungsten.
7. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 1 wherein the tungstate is ammonium metatungstate, sodium tungstate, or tungstic acid.
8. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 1 wherein the tungstate is ammonium metatungstate.
9. A tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst consisting of an electrochemically activated tungstate catalyst supported on a carbon support, the tungsten-containing catalyst in a hydrogen:air PEM fuel cell having a single 5 cm 2 cell producing a cell voltage of about 0.75 volts at a 1000 ohm load.
10. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 9 wherein the tungstate is ammonium metatungstate, sodium tungstate, or tungstic acid.
11. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 9 wherein the tungstate is ammonium metatungstate.
12. A tungsten-containing fuel cell catalyst consisting of an electrochemically activated tungstate supported on a carbon support, the tungsten-containing catalyst producing a potential of about 0.25 volts at current densities of between about 2 to about 6 mA/cm 2 at a temperature of about 25° C. and a pressure of about 1atmosphere.
13. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 12 wherein the potential is measured in a hydrogen:air fuel cell having an anode made with the tungsten-containing catalyst and a cathode made with a platinum catalyst.
14. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 12 wherein the tungstate is ammonium metatungstate, sodium tungstate, or tungstic acid.
15. The tungsten-containing catalyst of claim 12 wherein the tungstate is ammonium metatungstate.