Abstract
AbstractCarbon black (CB) is commonly used to support Pt as an electrocatalyst in fuel cells. However, it is easily corroded in electrochemical reactions, such as in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), leading to catalyst degradation. In this paper, we report results of protecting the CB using an ultrathin 5 nm film of niobium oxide conformally coated on the CB using a new coating technique. Electrochemical test in ORR shows only a 1.7 % activity loss after 5000 cycles, demonstrating an excellent durability of the electrocatalyst. Compared to the electrocatalyst without niobium oxide coating, it shows a 25 mV improvement in half‐wave potentials, indicative of a better kinetics. A positive shift in binding energy was found in Pt 4 f, implying electron delocalization has occurred when Pt is interfaced with the niobium oxide support. The activity enhancement is attributed to the electronic structure change in the electrocatalyst as a result of metal‐support interactions.
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