Synthesis and characterization of Pt nanocatalyst on Ru0.7Ti0.3O2 support as a cathode for fuel cells application

• Pt catalyst on ruthenium/titanium oxide support, Ru:Ti atomic ratio 7:3 was synthesized.
• Ru0.7Ti0.3O2 support and Pt catalyst were characterized by XRD, XPS, HRTEM techniques.
• The catalyst was tested for oxygen reduction in HClO4 solution.
• This catalyst showed enhanced catalytic activity, compared to Pt/C.

Ruthenium oxide/titanium oxide, with a Ru:Ti atomic ratio of 7:3 was synthesized by modified sol–gel procedure and used as a support for platinum nanocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction. The synthesized materials were characterized in terms of morphology, particle size distribution, chemical and phase composition by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high angle annular dark filed scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF, STEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). XPS spectra revealed that Ru atoms were in mainly in Ru(4+) oxidation state, the Ti atoms in Ti(4+) oxidation state, whereas the Pt-atoms were in metallic state. TEM analysis proved that platinum nanoparticles nucleated at both oxide species and homogeneous distribution was observed. The average platinum nanoparticle size was 3.05 nm.Electrochemically active surface area of platinum was 32 m2 g−1. Kinetics of the oxygen reduction was studied at rotating disc electrode in 0.5 mol dm−3 HClO4 solution, at 25 °C. The catalytic activities expressed in terms of specific activity (per electrochemically active surface area of platinum) and mass activity (per mass of platinum) were determined and compared to Pt catalyst on carbon support. The high catalytic activity was proven by electrochemical characterization.