Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of Pt catalyst supported on Sn0.96Sb0.04O2-δ with a network structure

We synthesized a Pt catalyst supported on Sn0.95Sb0.04O2-delta with a random network structure for the cathode of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). The Sn0.96Sb0.04O2-delta support, synthesized by the flame combustion method, was in the form of nanometer-sized particles with a partially agglomerated structure similar to that of carbon black (CB) and with a high surface area, 125 m(2) g(-1). The structure was considered to be beneficial in reducing the contact resistance between the Sn0.96Sb0.04O2-delta support particles and in dispersing the nanometer-size Pt particles. We applied the nanocapsule method to synthesize the Sn0.96Sb0.04O2-delta-supported Pt catalyst (Pt/Sn0.96Sb0.04O2-delta). The electrochemically active surface area (ECA) of Pt reached a maximum of 60.2 m(2) g((Pt))(-1). and the high values were maintained during the potential step cycling test (0.9-1.3 V) simulating the start/stop cycling of PEFCs. The oxygen reduction reaction activity of the Pt/Sn0.96Sb0.04O2-delta catalyst exceeded that of Pt supported on carbon black (Pt/CB). We conclude that the random network structured Sn0.96Sb0.04O2-delta might be a good candidate support material for the cathode of PEFCs. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.