Sb doped SnO2 as a stable cathode catalyst support for low temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

In this work the feasibility of a corrosion resistant non-carbon noble metal support for PEMFC cathode catalysts has been investigated and compared with a traditional carbon black support. We developed an antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) material which has reasonable electrical conductivity (0.7 S/cm) and surface area (50 m2/g). ATO and carbon black (CB) supported Platinum (Pt) electrocatalysts have been prepared by modifying the well-known polyol process. Electrochemical characterizations of the supported catalysts were done to measure the ECSA via cyclic voltammetry, ORR activity via RDE, Pt corrosion via load cycling, support corrosion via potential cycling and finally the catalysts were processed to MEAs for single cell performance tests. ATO supported catalyst showed improved corrosion resistance properties in 0.5 M H2SO4 in three electrode system. However, lower performance than CB supported catalyst has been found after processing to MEAs for single cell tests at defined operating conditions. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy has also been used as a diagnostic tool to asses MEA performance.