Catalyst and a Method for Manufacturing the Same

Abstract

An improved platinum and method for manufacturing the improved platinum wherein the platinum having a fractal surface coating of platinum, platinum gray, with a increase in surface area of at least 5 times when compared to shiny platinum of the same geometry and also having improved resistance to physical stress when compared to platinum black having the same surface area. The process of electroplating the surface coating of platinum gray comprising plating at a moderate rate, for example at a rate that is faster than the rate necessary to produce shiny platinum and that is less than the rate necessary to produce platinum black. Platinum gray is applied to manufacture a fuel cell and a catalyst.

1 . An anode and/or a cathode comprising a substrate wherein the surface coating is electroplated to the surface of said conductive substrate at a rate such that the metal particles form on the conductive substrate faster than necessary to form shiny platinum and slower than necessary to form platinum black.  
     
     
         2 . A method for manufacturing of a catalyst by electroplating a surface coating such that surface has a rough surface coating comprising: 
 electroplating the surface of a conductive substrate at a rate such that the particles are form on the conductive substrate faster than necessary to form shiny platinum and slower than necessary to form platinum black.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said step of electroplating is accomplished at a rate of more than 0.05 microns per minute, but less than 1 micron per minute.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said electroplating is accomplished at a rate of greater or equal to 1 micron per minute, but less than 10 microns per minute.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said electroplating is controlled by the electrode voltage.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said voltage is a constant voltage.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the controlled voltage causes at least a partially diffusion limited plating reaction.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the voltage of said electroplating is less than 0.2 Volts and greater than −1 Volts vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the electroplating solution is at least 3 mM but less than 30 mM ammonium hexachloroplatinate in about 0.4 M disodium hydrogen phosphate.  
     
     
         10 . A method of using at least one catalyst of  claim 1  in a fuel cell.  
     
     
         11 . A method of using at least one catalyst of  claim 1  in an autocatalyst.