METHANOL- AND CARBON MONOXIDE-RESISTANT BIMETALLIC ELECTRO CATALYSTS APPLIED IN POLYMERIC ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS.

摘要

The present invention refers to the application of bimetallic material of the OsyRux (CO)n type, which are synthesised by any method in organic, aliphatic and aromatic solvents, and in reducing, inert and oxidising atmospheres without solvents, such as electrodes (anodes and cathodes) in polymeric electrolyte fuel cells (type PEM) using hydrogen or aliphatic alcohols as fuel. Said materials have a performance substantially higher than that of platinum, which is the material used as anode in a commercial manner: when the used hydrogen fuel has concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) of up to 0.5%, the platinum is easily deactivated by said polluting agent, while the novel bimetallic materials are considerably resistant. The bimetallic materials show methanol tolerance and may also show resistance properties to ethanol and other aliphatic alcohols, upon being used as cathodes in cells supplied directly with this compounds (DEFC, for instance).