The invention claimed is:
1. An electrode comprising an Pt 3 Y alloy wherein said alloy is supported on an electrically conductive support material, wherein said electrode does not also contain 0.1% to 20% by weight of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tantalum and tungsten, and 0.5% to 25% by weight of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, and calcium.
2. The electrode according to claim 1 , wherein said alloy comprises at least 70% by weight intermetallic compound.
3. An electrochemical cell comprising the electrode according to claim 1 and an electrolyte, wherein said electrochemical cell is a fuel cell.
4. The electrochemical cell according to claim 3 , wherein said electrode is the cathode.
5. The electrochemical cell according to claim 3 , wherein the alloy of the electrode contains a noble metal skin on the surface.
6. The electrochemical cell according to claim 3 , wherein the electrolyte is an ion conducting membrane.
7. An electrode comprising a Pt 3 Y alloy, wherein said alloy is supported on an electrically conductive support material, wherein said electrode does not also contain 0.1% to 20% by weight of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tantalum and tungsten, and 0.5% to 25% by weight of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, and calcium, and, wherein said alloy is crystalline.
8. The electrode according to claim 7 , wherein said alloy comprises at least 70% by weight an intermetallic compound.
9. An electrochemical cell comprising the electrode according to claim 7 and an electrolyte, wherein said electrochemical cell is a fuel cell.
10. An electrode comprising a Pt 5 La alloy, wherein said alloy is supported on an electrically conductive support material, wherein said electrode does not also contain 0.1% to 20% by weight of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tantalum and tungsten, and 0.5% to 25% by weight of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, and calcium.
11. The electrode according to claim 10 , wherein said alloy comprises at least 70% by weight intermetallic compound.
12. An electrochemical cell comprising the electrode according to claim 10 and an electrolyte, wherein said electrochemical cell is a fuel cell.
13. The electrochemical cell according to claim 12 , wherein said electrode is the cathode.
14. The electrochemical cell according to claim 12 , wherein the alloy of the electrode contains a noble metal skin on the surface.
15. The electrochemical cell according to claim 12 , wherein the electrolyte is an ion conducting membrane.
16. An electrode comprising a Pt 5 Y alloy, wherein said alloy of said electrode is supported on an electrically conductive support material.
17. The electrode according to claim 16 , wherein said alloy comprises at least 70% by weight intermetallic compound.
18. An electrochemical cell comprising the electrode according to claim 16 and an electrolyte, wherein said electrochemical cell is a fuel cell.
19. The electrochemical cell according to claim 18 , wherein said electrode is the cathode.
20. The electrochemical cell according to claim 18 , wherein the alloy of the electrode contains a noble metal skin on the surface.
21. The electrochemical cell according to claim 18 , wherein the electrolyte is an ion conducting membrane.
22. An electrode comprising a Pt 5 La alloy, wherein said alloy is supported on an electrically conductive support material, wherein said electrode does not also contain 0.1% to 20% by weight of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tantalum and tungsten, and 0.5% to 25% by weight of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, and calcium, and, wherein said alloy is crystalline.
23. The electrode according to claim 22 , wherein said alloy comprises at least 70% by weight an intermetallic compound.
24. An electrochemical cell comprising the electrode according to claim 22 and an electrolyte, wherein said electrochemical cell is a fuel cell.
25. An electrode comprising a Pt 5 Y alloy, wherein said alloy of said electrode is supported on an electrically conductive support material, and, wherein said alloy is crystalline.
26. The electrode according to claim 25 , wherein said alloy comprises at least 70% by weight an intermetallic compound.
27. An electrochemical cell comprising the electrode according to claim 25 and an electrolyte, wherein said electrochemical cell is a fuel cell.