Abstract
Novel platinum-catalysed, corrosion-resistant, loose-tube-structured electrocatalysts for proton exchangemembrane fuel cells have been obtained using single-needle electrospinning associated with a microwave-assisted polyol method. Monodisperse platinum particles supported on Nb–SnO2 demonstrated higherelectrochemical stability than conventional Pt/C electrodes during ex situ potential cycling and comparableactivity in the oxygen reduction reaction. In situ fuel cell operation under accelerated stress test conditionsof a membrane electrode assembly elaborated using a Pt/C anode and Pt/Nb–SnO2 cathode confirmedthat the voltage loss is significantly lower for the novel cathode than for an MEA prepared using conventionalPt/C supported electrocatalysts. Furthermore, the Nb–SnO2stabilised the supported platinum nanoparticlesagainst dissolution, migration and reprecipitation in the membrane. Pt/Nb–SnO2 loose-tubes constitute amitigation strategy for two known degradation mechanisms in PEMFC: corrosion of the carbon support atthe cathode, and dissolution of Pt at high cell voltages.