Comparative study on noble metal based nanocatalysts on different supports for low temperature fuel cells application

Abstract

Platinum based nanostructures on carbon support are state of the art materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells application. Contemporary research directions in this field imply synthesis and characterization of novel carbon free catalysts supports to overcome disadvantages of carbon supported ones. We have recently synthesized platinum and palladium nanocatalysts onto different novel metal oxide based supports: titanium-oxide, tin oxide and tungsten oxide, doped by different metals (Nb, Ru, Sb), to achieve satisfactory conductivity. These novel nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), as well as by electrochemical techniques. The synthesized nanostructured catalysts were tested for oxygen reduction reaction. Obtained catalytic activities and stabilities were compared to the same noble metal loading catalysts on Vulcan XC-72 support. The results of comparison revealed many advantages of carbon free supported nanocatalysts, regarding both activity and stability.