OXYGEN REDUCTION ELECTRODE CATALYST, ELECTRODE CATALYST FOR HYDROGEN GENERATION REACTION, AND ELECTRODE

摘要

To further improve the activity of an oxygen reduction electrode catalyst which uses boron nitride (BN). Oxygen reduction reaction activity is improved, in comparison to an electrode wherein a BN thin film is supported, by having the surface of Au or the like support a BN nanosheet. The activity can be further enhanced by having the BN nanosheet support Au fine particles. Vitreous carbon can be used for a substrate by having the BN nanosheet support Au fine particles. The oxygen reduction reaction activity can be further improved by using a BNNS that is further reduced in size. Also provided are: an electrode catalyst having high hydrogen generation reaction activity; and an electrode catalyst having high hydrogen generation reaction activity but not having hydrogen oxidation reaction activity, said hydrogen oxidation reaction being the reverse reaction of hydrogen generation reaction. High hydrogen generation reaction activity can be achieved by having the surface of Au substrate or the like support a BN nanosheet. The activity can be further improved by having the BN nanosheet support fine particles of Au or the like. An electrode catalyst which uses Au as a substrate has high hydrogen reaction activity but does not have hydrogen oxidation reaction activity.