title: Advanced cathode materials for polymer electrolyte fuel cells based on pt/ metal oxides: from model electrodes to catalyst systems.
abstract: The development of stable catalyst systems for application at the cathode side of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) requires the substitution of the state-of-the-art carbon supports with materials showing high corrosion resistance in a strongly oxidizing environment. Metal oxides in their highest oxidation state can represent viable support materials for the next generation PEFC cathodes. In the present work a multilevel approach has been adopted to investigate the kinetics and the activity of Pt nanoparticles supported on SnO2-based metal oxides. Particularly, model electrodes made of SnO2 thin films supporting Pt nanoparticles, and porous catalyst systems made of Pt nanoparticles supported on Sb-doped SnO2 high surface area powders have been investigated. The present results indicate that SnO2-based supports do not modify the oxygen reduction reaction mechanism on the Pt nanoparticle surface, but rather lead to catalysts with enhanced specific activity compared to Pt/carbon systems. Different reasons for the enhancement in the specific activity are considered and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Electrochemistry Laboratory Paul Scherrer Institut OVGA/103A CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland. emiliana.fabbri@psi.ch.
authors.forename: Emiliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.affiliation: Electrochemistry Laboratory Paul Scherrer Institut OVGA/103A CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pătru
authors.affiliation: Electrochemistry Laboratory Paul Scherrer Institut OVGA/103A CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabis
authors.affiliation: Electrochemistry Laboratory Paul Scherrer Institut OVGA/103A CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kötz
authors.affiliation: Electrochemistry Laboratory Paul Scherrer Institut OVGA/103A CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt