Titanium Oxide Nano-Particles as Supports of Cathode Catalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Abstract

Because of low durability of carbon support which is widely used as a matrix of cathode catalyst in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), a novel carbon-free support with high durability is needed. The conductive oxide is one of the promising candidates due to its high durability. Titanium oxide nano-particles were already applied to an alternative material of carbon, with they have high chemical stability in the acid electrolyte and high electronic conductivity. In this study, we prepared a Nb-doped TiO2 by hydrothermal method and it was reduced in a pure hydrogen atmosphere to obtain Nb-TiOx support. Comparing with a commercial Pt/C catalyst, the Pt/Nb-TiOx catalyst behaved higher durability after 5000 cycles of start-stop accelerated durability test.