Fuel cell electrode and method for producing same

摘要

An improved fuel cell electrode and method for construction is disclosed wherein the electrodes are formed from adjacent layers of a porous substrate material such as carbon, and C60 carbon molecules or fullerenes. The C60 carbon molecules are arranged in face centered cubes and bind platinum atoms interspaced in the interstices of the cubes and on the C60 molecules to form a Pt/C60 layer. Lattices of platinum atoms are anchored to the individual platinum atoms of the Pt/C60 molecular layer to form a catalyst layer only several molecules thick. The resulting platinum atoms of the catalyst layer have a much greater surface area in contact with the electrolyte due to the chaotic surface area of the catalyst layer. The platinum atoms of that layer act as a catalyst for the fuel cell reaction.