Hitachi Maxell has announced the development of a new catalyst containing platinum.

The new catalyst contains gold-platinum nanoparticles and it will be used in the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC).

PEFC can provide clean energy for cars, homes and mobile devices and researchers are trying to improve the efficiency of the reaction to decrease costs.

Increasing the surface area of the catalyst by size reduction can improve the catalytic activity as well as the addition of base metals to the platinum although these can dissolve in acidic material.

But the new catalyst has a platinum and gold combination which is more resistant to acidic content and produces 4.8 times higher oxygen reduction current per unit area.

According to Maxell this development represents a "large step closer" to creating a fuel cell for the practical use in applications requiring a large current, such as homes or cars.

Source:

Hitachi Maxell Developed New High Active Catalyst Enabling Higher Performance Fuel Cells, 27/03/08
http://www.maxell.co.jp/e/release/20080327.html

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