Mesoporous titanium and niobium nitrides as conductive and stable electrocatalyst supports in acid environments.

Title Mesoporous titanium and niobium nitrides as conductive and stable electrocatalyst supports in acid environments.
Authors K.E. Fritz; P.A. Beaucage; F. Matsuoka; U. Wiesner; J. Suntivich
Journal Chem Commun (Camb)
DOI 10.1039/c7cc03232c
Abstract

The stability of carbon-based catalyst supports represents one of the biggest challenges for the commercialisation of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Metal nitrides are an attractive alternative to carbon-based supports, owing to their high bulk conductivity and acid stability. We report the electrochemical stability evaluation of high-surface-area metal nitrides in acidic electrolytes. Three-dimensional mesoporous titanium (TiN) and niobium nitride (NbN) thin films were prepared using block copolymer self-assembly and were evaluated without using any conductive carbon additives or a carbon-based substrate. Both TiN and NbN are stable and maintain conductivity in acidic electrolytes up to at least 0.85 V (NbN) and 1.4 V (TiN) vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) after 2000 cycles. We also deposited platinum on the TiN films and demonstrate the expected cyclic voltammogram features, indicating the nitride's utility as a catalyst support.

Citation K.E. Fritz; P.A. Beaucage; F. Matsuoka; U. Wiesner; J. Suntivich.Mesoporous titanium and niobium nitrides as conductive and stable electrocatalyst supports in acid environments.. Chem Commun (Camb). 2017. doi:10.1039/c7cc03232c

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See more Niobium products. Niobium (atomic symbol: Nb, atomic number: 41) is a Block D, Group 5, Period 5 element with an atomic weight of 92.90638. Niobium Bohr ModelThe number of electrons in each of niobium's shells is 2, 8, 18, 12, 1 and its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d4 5s1. The niobium atom has a radius of 146 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 207 pm. Niobium was discovered by Charles Hatchett in 1801 and first isolated by Christian Wilhelm Blomstrand in 1864. In its elemental form, niobium has a gray metallic appearance. Niobium has the largest magnetic penetration depth of any element and is one of three elemental type-II superconductors (Elemental Niobiumalong with vanadium and technetium). Niobium is found in the minerals pyrochlore, its main commercial source, and columbite. The word Niobium originates from Niobe, daughter of mythical Greek king Tantalus.

Titanium

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Nitrogen

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