Overview of recent developments in oxygen reduction electrocatalysis

We review a small selection of recent fundamental and applied results related to the electrocatalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction in acid electrolytes, including polymer electrolytes. There have been a number of promising developments, which may lead to advances at the practical level in polymer electrolyte fuel cells.

► The development of platinum alloy catalysts for oxygen reduction has been traced.
► Single crystal platinum electrodes, (111), (110) and (100), were studied with XPS.
► The electrochemical (EC) XPS studies shed light on the coverages of H2O, OH and O.
► Coverages depend on crystal face, O2 vs. N2, and potential and relate to activity.
► Special methods to prepare monodisperse Pt nanoparticles increased durability.