SnO2 nanocluster supported Pt catalyst with high stability for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Tin oxide nanocluster (SnO2) with parallel nanorods was synthesized via a hard template method and explored as the anode catalyst support for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Single cell test demonstrated that SnO2 supported Pt catalyst (Pt/SnO2) exhibited comparable anode performance with conventional Pt/C. Electrochemical measurements showed that Pt/SnO2 exhibited significantly enhanced electrochemical stability than Pt/C under high potential electro-oxidation and potential cycling. The Pt/SnO2 catalyst reserved most of its electrochemically active surface area (ECA) under 10 h potential hold at 1.6 V while its ECA degradation rate was one order of magnitude lower than Pt/C under potential cycling between 0.6 and 1.2 V. Therefore, SnO2 nanocluster can be considered as a promising alternative anode catalyst support for PEMFCs.