United Technologies Corporation

Union Technologies Corporation

Arthur Kaufman

Murray Katz

A porous conducting particle, hydrophobic bonded, substrate supported electrode is prewetted with the electrolyte. A D.C. voltage is applied to the electrode to assist in the prewetting with the electrolyte. A soluble catalyst-containing material is then introduced into the electrode structure and the catalyst deposited within the electrode. By appropriate selection of the porous conducting particles and the catalyst-applying techniques, precise control of the location of the catalyst can be obtained. If graphite materials are used as the conducting particles, a catalyst-containing salt is allowed to dissolve in the electrolyte in the prewetted electrode, and the catalyst-containing material is reduced to the metal. If the reduction is done by reaction with a reducing gas such as hydrogen, the catalyst will be deposited only in those regions of the electrode at which there is an electrolyte-reactant gas interface which is in electrical-conducting relationship with the substrate. Alternatively, extremely precise amounts of catalyst can be deposited within the electrode structure by use of a solution of a compound of the catalyst whose wettability with the hydrophobic material varies as the solution evaporates. By this technique almost 100% of the catalyst can be deposited within the electrode structure on the hydrophilic region, with virtually no losses in the hydrophobic material.

Method for catalyzing a fuel cell electrode and an electrode so produced

A porous conducting particle, hydrophobic bonded, substrate supported electrode is prewetted with the electrolyte. A D.C. voltage is applied to the electrode to assist in the prewetting with the electrolyte. A soluble catalyst-containing material is then introduced into the electrode and the catalyst deposited within the electrode. By appropriate selection of the porous conducting particles and the catalyst-applying techniques, precise control of the location of the catalyst can be obtained. If graphite materials are used as the conducting particles, a catalyst-containing salt is allowed to dissolve in the electrolyte in the prewetted electrode, and the catalyst-containing material is reduced to the metal. If the reduction is done by reaction with a reducing gas such as hydrogen, the catalyst will be deposited only in those regions of the electrode at which there is an electrolyte-reactant gas interface which is in electrical-conducting relationship with the substrate. Alternatively, extremely precise amounts of catalyst can be deposited within the electrode structure by use of a solution of a compound of the catalyst whose wettability with the hydrophobic material varies as the solution evaporates. By this technique almost 100% of the catalyst can be deposited within the electrode structure on the hydrophilic region, with virtually no losses in the hydrophobic material.

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Bloomfield, CT, United States of America

Arthur Kaufman