A New Approach to Fuel Cell Electrodes: Lanthanum Aluminate Yielding Fine Pt Nanoparticle Exsolution for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Designing an electrocatalyst with low Pt content is an immediate need for essential reactions in low temperature fuel cell systems. In the present work, La0.9925Ba0.0075Al0.995Pt0.005O3 is aimed at using with low (only 0.5%) Pt doping as an electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The low doping level renders exsolution of 1-2 nm nanoparticles with uniform dispersion upon reduction in H-2/N-2 at low temperatures. Pt exsolved perovskite oxides deliver significantly enhanced catalytic activity for ORR and improved stability in alkaline media. This study demonstrates that LaAlO3 with low noble metal content holds immense potential as an electrocatalyst in real fuel cell systems.