NOBLE METAL-FREE CATALYSTS FOR THE HYDROGEN OXYGEN RECOMBINATION IN SEALED LEAD-ACID-BATTERIES USING IMMOBILIZED ELECTROLYTES

In order to remove hydrogen in sealed lead/acid batteries operating on oxygen cycle the facility to recombine hydrogen and oxygen at a catalyst in the gas phase was studied. Based on the assumption of an electrochemical mechanism, several catalytic materials were investigated. It has been shown that noble metal-free composite materials based on tungsten carbide (WC) and carbon can be applied as catalysts for this purpose. The working conditions for their application in model cells were discussed. The efficiency of such catalysts in sealed lead/acid batteries was also demonstrated.