NOBLE METAL MICROPARTICLE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF

摘要

Disclosed is a noble metal microparticle having an improved methanol-oxidizing property. The noble metal microparticle comprises a platinum microparticle and a ruthenium microparticle attached onto only a part of the surface of the platinum microparticle. The noble metal microparticle can be properly produced by substantially reducing a salt of platinum in a solution, mixing a salt of ruthenium with the solution, and reducing the mixed solution to cause the precipitation of a ruthenium microparticle in such a manner the ruthenium microparticle is attached to only a part of the surface of a platinum microparticle precipitated in the solution. The noble metal microparticle is useful as a catalyst to be carried on an electrode for a solid polymer fuel cell typified by a direct methanol fuel cell.