Enhanced activity and stability of Pt/TiO2/carbon fuel cell electrocatalyst prepared using a glucose modifier

Two TiO2-C composite materials were prepared through a conventional sol gel synthesis using Vulcan XC-72 carbon black. The carbon was initially functionalised to form acid treated Vulcan (ATV) prior to TiO2 deposition. In one composite, the ATV was further modified through glucose adsorption (G-ATV) in order to facilitate the growth of small and uniform TiO2 nanoparticles on the carbon surface. Platinum nanoparticles were deposited on TiO2/G-ATV and TiO2/ATV supports through reduction of H2PtCl6 with NaBH4 at 0 °C. The electrochemical properties of the two composite catalysts were compared with in house Pt/C catalyst. We observed a three-fold increase in TiO2 loading (14 wt%) on glucose doped carbon surface compared with just acid treated support (5 wt%). The beginning of life (BOL) electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of Pt/14 wt%TiO2/G-ATV catalyst was 40.4 m2 g−1 compared to 37.1 m2 g−1 obtained for Pt on 5 wt% TiO2/ATV despite increased TiO2 loadings on the former. Furthermore these composite catalysts showed enhanced oxygen reduction activity and better durability during accelerated stress tests which was attributed to an electronic interaction between Pt and the TiO2 on the support.