Activity and durability of the oxygen reduction reaction in a nitrogen-doped rutile-shell on TiN-core nanocatalysts synthesised via solution-phase combustion

Core-shell-structured titanium oxynitride nanocatalysts were synthesised on carbon black via an inexpensive solution-phase combustion route. The synthesis conditions were systematically optimised to exhibit the highest oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity at 0.9 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 mol dm(-3) H2SO4. The nitrogen-doped rutile TiO2 shell successfully protected the TiN core without altering the ORR mechanism after 20 000 potential cycles between 0.6 and 1.0 V.