Vertically aligned catalysts comprised of platinum–nickel thin films on nickel nanorods (designated as Pt–Ni@Ni-NR) with varying ratios of Pt to Ni in the thin film were prepared by magnetron sputtering and evaluated for their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. A glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique was used to fabricate the Ni nanorods (NRs) and a small angle deposition technique for growth of a thin conformal coating of Pt–Ni on the Ni-NRs. The Pt–Ni@Ni-NR structures were deposited on glassy carbon for evaluation of their ORR activity in an aqueous acidic electrolyte using the rotating disk electrode technique. The Pt–Ni@Ni-NR catalysts showed superior area-specific and mass activities for ORR compared to those of Pt–Ni alloy nanorod catalysts prepared using the GLAD technique and compared to those of conventional large-surface area Pt and Pt–Ni alloy nanoparticle catalysts.

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Fuel cell technology is one of the solutions which can play an important role in the environmentally friendly with more efficient, cleaner and quieter than traditional internal combustion engines. Among the fuel cells types polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells have many advantages regarding quick start-up time, less warm-up time high power density and high efficiency. There are still some limitations due to the cost of Pt-based catalysts. Platinum based catalysts are presently the most promising catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) in Fuel Cells. Homogenously distributed Pt nanoparticles on carbon support (Pt/C) nanoparticles are mostly using in conventional way to produce Fuel Cells. Pt-based electrocatalysts with higher activity and durability are needed for cost-competitive PEM Fuel Cells. It can be developed/improved further by using Platinum-based/alloy thin film core-shell nanostructures. For this reason, this article reviewed the significance and processing of such core/shell structures. The general information about Fuel Cells is given at the beginning of this review article. Later, type of the fuel cells along with more definition of the PEM Fuel Cells are described. The Pt shell on Ni, Cr, Pd, Ru, and WC core nanorods increase the stability and durability and decrease the cost based on the published works. This nanostructured design will significantly impact the fuel cell technology by improving catalysts. Specifically, by controlling size, composition, and surface-area-to-volume ratios, this review article describes the investigation of the core/shell nanostructured array catalysts. A few of the following examples of core/shell structures and supported catalysts proved electrocatalytic oxygen reduction.

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