A TiN@C core–shell support for improving Pt catalyst corrosion resistance

Abstract

The corrosion of the support in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is a major obstacle to their development. In this study, we combined the excellent corrosion resistance and strong metal–support interaction (SMSI) provided by titanium nitride (TiN) with the excellent conductivity of carbon to construct a TiN@C composite support composed of a TiN core and a porous carbon nanolayer shell. The composite TiN@C support exhibited a higher corrosion resistance than the carbon support during testing at 1.2 V (vs. RHE) for 400 h. Based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations, the improved corrosion resistance originated from the excellent corrosion resistance of titanium nitride itself and SMSI between Pt and N in TiN. Overall, the high corrosion resistance of the TiN@C support can significantly improve PEMFC durability.