Core-shell catalyst and reaction acceleration method

Abstract

Provided are (i) a catalyst that has a core-shell structure and is highly active in an oxygen reduction reaction, which is a cathode reaction of a fuel cell, and (ii) a reaction acceleration method in which the catalyst is used. A core-shell catalyst for accelerating an oxygen reduction reaction, contains: silver or palladium as a core material; and platinum as a shell material, the core-shell catalyst having, on a surface thereof, a (110) surface of a face centered cubic lattice.

1 . A core-shell catalyst for accelerating an oxygen reduction reaction, comprising:
 silver or palladium as a core material; and   platinum as a shell material,   said core-shell catalyst having, on a surface thereof, a (110) surface of a face centered cubic lattice.   
     
     
         2 . The core-shell catalyst as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the core-shell catalyst has a shell that includes 1 to 3 atomic layers of the platinum. 
     
     
         3 . A reaction acceleration method for accelerating an oxygen reduction reaction by use of a (110) surface that is formed on a surface of a core-shell catalyst containing: silver or palladium as a core material; and platinum as a shell material,
 said reaction acceleration method comprising:   molecularly adsorbing an oxygen molecule onto the (110) surface;   forming a water molecule by causing (i) the oxygen molecule adsorbed onto the (110) surface and (ii) a proton to react with each other; and   desorbing the water molecule from the (110) surface.