Attività e vantaggi di stabilità degli elettrocatalizzatori Pt/C per la reazione di riduzione dell'ossigeno preparati tramite l'aggiunta di ossidi metallici.

The commercialization of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) for H₂ energy remains challenged by performance, durability, and cost. While platinum-based catalysts are highly active for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR), they suffer from degradation due to metal dissolution, nanoparticle growth, and carbon support corrosion. This study explores CeO2, ZrO2, and SnO2 as oxide supports for Pt catalysts, evaluating activity and durability through Rotating Disk Electrode (RDE), Gas Diffusion Electrode (GDE), and Membrane Electrode Assembled (MEA) tests. After initial RDE screening, stability was assessed using GDE and MEA, demonstrating GDE as a key link between lab-scale RDE and practical MEA performance. CeO2 catalysts showed strong resistance to carbon corrosion and Pt aggregation, while ZrO2, though stable in RDE, underperformed in GDE and MEA, highlighting RDE’s limitations for durability testing. SnO2 exhibited a sacrificial oxidation mechanism that protected Pt nanoparticles, maintaining electrochemical surface area in GDE. Control over carbon support, nanoparticle size, and loading revealed that SnO2 and CeO2 synthesized via solid-state methods significantly outperformed ZrO2 and catalysts without metal oxides. CeO2 enhanced stability by protecting the carbon support and ionomer, while SnO2 provided superior Pt stability. Solid-state synthesis, superior to solvothermal and hydrothermal approaches, ensured precise control over catalyst properties, yielding enhanced activity and durability. These findings offer crucial insights into developing robust PEMFC catalysts and demonstrate the value of combining RDE, GDE, and MEA techniques to bridge the gap between fundamental research and practical applications.