Abstract:
A fuel cell comprising an electrode designed for the electrochemical utilization of gaseous hydrogen, said electrode comprising a metallic body of a heavy metal lattice capable of absorbing and diffusing the hydrogen, and at least a large portion of one side of said body being in intimate contact with a dissimilar metal hydrogenation catalyst layer, consisting of a metal hydride, the catalyst of said layer being selected from the group consisting of uranium hydride, titanium hydride, thorium hydride, cerium hydride, and zirconium hydride and the metal of said lattice being selected from the group consisting of tantalum, tantalum alloys, palladium and palladium-silver alloys, and a conduit delivering the gaseous hydrogen to said one side of the metallic body.