Patent ID: 8216437

Claim:
An electrochemical cell for causing a reaction that produces hydrogen, the electrochemical cell comprising: a first electrode comprising: at least one layered electrocatalyst, wherein the at least one layered electrocatalyst comprises: a carbon support integrated with a conductive metal; at least one active metal layer comprising platinum, or platinum and iridium at least partially deposited on the carbon support, wherein the at least one active metal layer is active to a target species, and wherein the at least one active metal layer has regions of varying thickness with at least one region having a thickness ranging from 10 nanometers to 10 microns, and at least one second metal layer comprising at least one of palladium, rhodium, or ruthenium deposited on the carbon support, wherein the at least one second metal layer is active to OH adsorption and inactive to the target species, and wherein the at least one second metal layer has regions of varying thickness with at least one region having a thickness ranging from 10 nanometers to 10 microns; a second electrode comprising a conductor; a basic electrolyte; ammonia, ethanol, or combinations thereof; and electrical current in communication with the first electrode.