Patent ID: 6682837
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: B01J,C22C,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A method for the electrochemical conversion of a hydrocarbon-based fuel and oxygen to water, carbon dioxide and electricity in a fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode, a proton exchange membrane electrolyte therebetween, and an electrically conductive external circuit connecting the anode and cathode, the method comprising contacting the hydrocarbon-based fuel with a ternary metal alloy catalyst to catalytically oxidize the fuel, the ternary catalyst consisting essentially of, in atomic percentages, platinum from about 25% to about 50%, ruthenium from about 25% to about 55%, and palladium from about 5% to about 45%, with the difference in the atomic percentages of ruthenium and platinum being no greater than about 20 atomic percent.