Process for the preparation of an inert cathode for selective oxygen reduction and application of the cathode produced

摘要

Inert cathodes, provided with a catalytically effective thin surface coating, enabling oxygen reduction are suitable for fuel cells. However, in the presence of methanol as a combustible, this coating must exhibit selective properties which cannot be obtained by using semiconductive cluster materials made of transition metal chalkogenides in the form of powder or a fine coating. The inventive inert cathodes possess the desired catalytic and selective properties. Their thin surface coating comprises colloidally dispersed homogenously distributed clusters and its production requires only a minimal amount of material in the nanogram range for a low coverage rate with a highly selective and catalytic degree of action. The coating is obtained by immersion in a colloid containing the cluster mixture and a stabilizer in a solvent.The solvent and stabilizer are removed by temperature treatment after application of the colloid.