CHEMICALLY GROWN GOLD-CARBON ELECTROCATALYST MATERIAL FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE ALKALINE FUEL CELL CATHODES (PE-058A)

WE PROPOSE TO PREPARE A MATERIAL IN WHICH A HIGHLY DISPERSEDCATALYST IS CHEMICALLY BONDED TO A CARBON FILAMENT SUPPORT MATERIAL FOR USE IN THE FABRICATION OF CATHODES FOR ALKALINEFUEL CELLS. THE CARBON FILAMENTS WILL BE GROWN ON GOLD OR GOLD ALLOY CATALYSTS FROM HOT FLOWING GASES. THE ELECTROCATALYST IS EXPECTED TO EXHIBIT THE IMPROVED SINTERING AND CORROSION RESISTANCE NEEDED FOR PRESSURIZED ALKALINE FUEL CELL OPERATION. THESE MATERIALS WILL BE PRODUCED FROM A VARIETY OF HOT GAS ENVIRONMENTS AS WELL AS FROM VARIOUS DISPERSED CATALYST PRECURSORS. THE ATMOSPHERIC AND PRESSURIZED CORROSION BEHAVIOR OF THESE MATERIALS IN HOT POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE WILL BE DETERMINED AND COMPARED TO VARIOUS CARBON AND HEAT TREATED CARBON BASELINE MATERIALS. THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS FROM THE PROPOSED CHEMICALLY GROWN GOLD-CARBON MATERIAL ARE THREEFOLD: 1) CHEMICAL BONDING OF GOLD TO THE CARBON SUPPORTRESULTING IN LESS MOBILITY AND HENCE GREATER SINTERING RESISTANCE, 2) A CARBON WITH IMPROVED RESISTANCE TO ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION, AND 3) STRONG-METAL-SUPPORT-INTERACTION (SMSI) EFFECTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN GREATER OXYGEN REDUCTION ACTIVITY.