Pt-supported tungsten carbide catalyst is uniformly loading the tiny metal platinum nanoparticles on the tungsten carbide carrier with highly dispersing, and both of tungsten carbide and platinum will play the synergistic effect, and thus to form a new type of fuel cell catalysts. Studies have shown that tungsten carbide (WC) can instead of platinum and other precious metal catalyst, and also had good ability to resist poisoning; moreover, its catalytic performance on hydrogen precipitation reaction has been confirmed. 

 

Research points out a preparation method of high efficient hydrogen evolution electrode materials and fuel cell electric catalyst, which is Pt-supported tungsten carbide catalyst, the preparation steps are as follows: 

1. Dissolve the ammonium metatungstate (AMT) and platinum salt in the distilled water in accordance with the mass ratio of 1:0.02~2, to prepare the mixed aqueous solution with 2.5 ~ 50 wt % of ammonium metatungstate after fully mixed; 

2. Import the mixed aqueous solution obtained in step 1 into a spray dryer for spray drying, and then to obtain the precursor particles of spherical H₂WO₄/ platinum salt; 

3. Put the spherical H₂WO₄/ platinum salt precursor particles in a reactor for roasting, and then goes on the reduction and carbonization; cool down the product to room temperature under the protection of inert gas after the reaction is completed until the dark grey products is generated, which is the Pt-supported tungsten carbide catalyst. Wherein, the mass ratio of metal platinum and carrier of tungsten carbide is 1~100:100, and tungsten carbide carrier has the morphology characteristics of mesoporous hollow spherical structure. 

 

The development background of Pt-supported tungsten carbide catalyst: 

1. Although the Pge electric catalyst has excellent electric catalytic activity, but the price is expensive; 

2. Nickel and its alloy are also used for hydrogen evolution materials, but their chemical stability is really poor; 

3. Fuel cell is expected to become the cleanest energy in the future since the high energy and efficiency, and friendly to environment and other properties, and thus to get a lot of attention. 

In such circumstances, Pt-supported tungsten carbide catalyst is supposed to become the mainstream of the fuel cell non-noble metal catalysts.