Nanostructured Ti_0.7Mo_0.3O₂ Support Enhances Electron Transfer to Pt: High-Performance Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Abstract

The slow rate of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the instability of Pt-based catalysts are two of the most important issues that must be solved in order to make proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) a reality. Additionally, the serious carbon corrosion on the cathode side is a critical problem with respect to the durability of catalyst that limits its wide application. Here, we present a new approach by exploring robust noncarbon Ti(0.7)Mo(0.3)O(2) used as a novel functionalized cocatalytic support for Pt. This approach is based on the novel nanostructure Ti(0.7)Mo(0.3)O(2) support with "electronic transfer mechanism" from Ti(0.7)Mo(0.3)O(2) to Pt that can modify the surface electronic structure of Pt, owing to a shift in the d-band center of the surface Pt atoms. Furthermore, another benefit of Ti(0.7)Mo(0.3)O(2) is the extremely high stability of Pt/Ti(0.7)Mo(0.3)O(2) during potential cycling, which is attributable to the strong metal/support interaction (SMSI) between Pt and Ti(0.7)Mo(0.3)O(2). This also enhances the inherent structural and chemical stability and the corrosion resistance of the TiO(2)-based oxide in acidic and oxidative environments. We also demonstrate that the ORR current densities generated using cocatalytic Pt/Ti(0.7)Mo(0.3)O(2) are respectively ~7- and 2.6-fold higher than those of commercial Pt/C and PtCo/C catalysts with the same Pt loading. This new approach opens a reliable path to the discovery advanced concept in designing new catalysts that can replace the traditional catalytic structure and motivate further research in the field.

CO-OXIDATION REACTION ACTIVITY OF Pt CLUSTER CATALYSTS ON Ti0.9MO0.1O2 SUPPORT

“…% H 2 /He environment (flow rate of 40 mL.min -1 ). Pt L III -edge measurements data collection modes, and calculation of errors were all done as per the guidelines set by the International XAFS Society Standards and Criteria Committee [8,10,11,12].…”

What Can We Learn in Electrocatalysis, from Nanoparticulated Precious and/or Non-Precious Catalytic Centers Interacting with Their Support?

“…Low and high graphitic carbon are, e.g., carbon black (CB), single-walled or multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene oxide (GO) [55,[163][164][165][166][167][168][169][170][171][172][173][174][175][176][177][178][179][180][181][182] and carbon nitride (CN) [183][184][185][186] among others. The semi-conducting oxides, such as TiO 2 , doped-TiO 2 and doped-SnO 2 , have been reported as support for catalytic centers [187][188][189][190][191][192][193]. The conductivity of oxides can be improved by synthesizing oxide/carbon composites [194].…”

Rational synthesis and the structure-property relationships of nanoheterostructures: a combinative study of experiments and theory

“…Hwang et al 79 have synthesized Pt-Ti 0.7 Mo 0.3 O 2 NHSs through a sol-gel protocol and utilized them in the electro-catalysis of oxygen reduction reactions. They found that their NHSs performed much better than the conventional Pt/C catalyst.…”