Electrode catalyst for fuel cell and fuel cell using the same

Abstract

To provide an electrode catalyst for a fuel cell comprising inexpensive materials substituting for a precious metal catalyst such as platinum, and a fuel cell using the same. Poly (furfuryl alcohol) containing ferrocene is prepared by dissolving ferrocene corresponding to 1 to 3 wt % on the iron atomic basis in furfuryl alcohol, adding hydrochloric acid (2 mol/dm 3 ) thereto as a polymerization initiator, and then polymerizing them in the air at 70° C. for 48 hours. Random layers 2 developed into onion-like lamination layers around iron particles are produced by heating this poly (furfuryl alcohol) up to 700° C. at a temperature rising rate of 150° C./h, and then holding the state for an hour to carbonize it. The iron carbon complex having this structure of the random layers 2 is applied especially to the cathode side as the electrode catalyst, to form the cells for the fuel cell.

1 : An electrode catalyst for a fuel cell which is a carbon material consisting essentially of graphitization-resistant carbon, characterized in using as an electrode catalyst one having a random layer structure at least in a part of the material structure.  
     
     
         2 : An electrode catalyst for a fuel cell as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in using as an electrode catalyst one which is obtained through carbonization processing by baking after having added a metal compound to a raw material for producing the graphitization-resistant carbon and mixed them, and which has the random layer structure at least in a part of the material structure.  
     
     
         3 : An electrode catalyst for a fuel cell as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said random layer structure is carbon nano-onion structure developed into onion-like lamination layers around metal particles.  
     
     
         4 : An electrode catalyst for a fuel cell as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the raw material for producing said graphitization-resistant carbon are to be selected from a group of the materials consisting of poly (furfuryl alcohol), furan resin or thermosetting resin including phenol resin, brown coal, cellulose, poly (vinylidene chloride) and lignin.  
     
     
         5 : An electrode catalyst for a fuel cell as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that said metal compounds contain at least one of these metals of iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium, and manganese.  
     
     
         6 : An electrode catalyst for a fuel cell as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that an amount of said metal compound to be added to the graphitization-resistant carbon is in the range of 0.5 to 15 wt % on the basis of the metal component(s) contained in said metal compounds.  
     
     
         7 : An electrode catalyst for a fuel cell as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that said metal compound has one of the forms of nitrate, chloride, acetyl-acetate or acetyl-acetate complex, and metallocene and its derivatives.  
     
     
         8 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 : An electrode catalyst for a fuel cell as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that said random layer structure is carbon nano-onion structure developed into onion-like lamination layers around metal particles.