Ruthenium/palladium/carbon catalyst useful for electro-oxidation of the formic acid in formic acid fuel cells comprises palladium and ruthenium deposited on a carbon support

摘要

Ruthenium/palladium/carbon catalyst comprises palladium and ruthenium deposited on a carbon support. The nominal atomic ratio of ruthenium to palladium in the catalyst is 0.2-1.5. Independent claims are also included for: (1) producing ruthenium/palladium/carbon catalyst comprising (a) providing palladium/carbon catalyst with a palladium crystallite size of less than 5 nm, and (b) subsequently depositing ruthenium on the produced palladium/carbon catalyst; and (2) a formic acid fuel cell comprising a cathode, preferably palladium/carbon catalyst, an ion-conducting membrane, and an anode, preferably palladium catalyst refined with ruthenium, where the palladium catalyst refined with ruthenium is ruthenium/palladium/carbon catalyst.