HYDROGEN GENERATING CATHODE OF LOW OVERVOLTAGE AND EXCELLENT DURABILITY

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cathode of consistent quality, low overvoltage and excellent durability by a thermal decomposition method in the atmosphere suitable for mass production. SOLUTION: A catalyst layer is formed on a base material by applying aqueous solution containing oxalic acid, at least one kind of platinum group compound (preferably, ruthenium compound), and at least one kind selected from lanthanum, cerium and yttrium compounds on the conductive base material, and baking the base material in the air to thermally decompose the aqueous solution. In this method, ruthenium oxide is less produced, any structural changes hardly occur during the electrolysis, and low overvoltage is ensured for a long period as the cathode for hydrogen generation. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO