Nanostructured Platinum Catalyst Supported by Titanium Dioxide

Abstract

One of important problems associated with the use of Pt/C electrocatalysts in low-temperature fuel cells is their degradation due to oxidation of the carbon support. The use of noncarbon supports resistant to oxidation, for example, oxides of certain metals in the highest degree of oxidation is a promising direction. TiO₂ with the high specific surface area (104 m²/g) is synthesized and used in fabrication of supported platinum catalysts. For Pt/TiO₂ and carbon-containing composite Pt/TiO₂+C, the electrochemically active surface area of platinum and the their activity in oxygen electroreduction reaction are estimated. The assessed stability of synthesized materials far exceeds the stability of commercial Pt/C catalysts.