Platinum-silver, palladium-gold, and platinum-gold alloys serve as oxygen reduction catalysts in high-current-density cells. Catalysts were tested on polytetrafluoroethylene-bonded cathodes and a hydrogen anode at an operating cell temperature of 80 degrees C

Cattabriga, R. A.

Giner, J.

Parry, J.

Swette, L. L.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

February 1970	 Brief 70-10145 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
New Elect rocatalysts for Hydrogen-Oxygen Fuel Cells 
Pure platinum black has generally been regarded 
as the best catalyst material for oxygen reduction in 
hydrogen-oxygen alkaline fuel cells operating at 
temperatures below about 150°C. In the course of 
investigation on catalyst materials for this type of fuel 
cell, three new alloys were developed and found to 
be suitable for use as oxygen reduction catalysts in 
high-current-density cells. 
One of these catalysts has a composition in atom % 
of 30Pt-7OAg. This alloy has a catalytic activity at 
least as high as that of pure platinum and is struc-
turally superior to platinum. The catalyst was pre-
pared from commercial platinum black and powdered 
silver oxide (A9 20). The composition of the second 
catalyst in atom % is 40Pd-6OAu. This catalyst is very 
nearly as active as pure platinum. Although pure 
palladium (Pd) black used as a catalyst is reported 
to corrode during alkaline fuel cell operation, the 
new Pd-Au alloy showed no signs of corrosion or 
deterioration during 3000 hours of continuous opera-
tion. The composition of the third catalyst in atom % 
is 70Pt-3OAu. This catalyst is more active than pure 
platinum. These catalysts were tested on polytetra-
fluoroethylene-bonded cathodes in fuel cells having a 
35% KOH electrolyte concentration and a hydrogen 
anode with a 30 mil asbestos matrix. The operating 
temperature of the cells was 80°C.
Note: 
The following documentation may be obtained 
from:
Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific 
and Technical. Information 
Springfield, Virginia 22151 
Single document price $3.00 
(or microfiche $0.65) 
Reference: NASA C R-97624 (N69- 10585), 
Development of Cathodic Electrocata-
lysts for use in Low Temperature Hydro-
gen/Oxygen Fuel Cells with an Alkaline 
Electrolyte 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention, may be made to NASA Code 
GP, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Source: J. Giner, L. Swette, R. Cattabriga
and J. Parry of
Tyco Laboratories, Incorporated
under contract to

NASA Headquarters 
(HQN- 10537) 
Category 01 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States 	 will be free from privately owned rights.
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New electrocatalysts for hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells

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