Metal-oxide catalysts for fuel cells

1. A method for forming a catalytic material comprising:

mixing an oxide precursor with sacrificial template particles to produce dispersed oxide-precursor composite particles;

calcining the dispersed oxide-precursor to convert the oxide-precursor to oxide, producing an oxide composite material having an irregular external surface morphology;

selectively removing the sacrificial template particles without dissolution of the oxide so as to produce a porous oxide support; and

attaching or depositing a platinum group metal, non-platinum group metal, or alloy thereof to the surface of the porous oxide support.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxide is selected from the group consisting of: tin oxide (SnO 2 ), Molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ), Indium oxide (In 2 O 3 ), Vanadium oxide (V 2 O 5 ), Lead oxide (PbO 2 ), chromium oxide (Cr 2 O 3 ), Manganese oxide (MnO 2 ), Iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), Cobalt oxide (CoO), Nickel oxide (NiO), Copper oxide (CuO), Zinc oxide (ZnO), silicon dioxide (or silica) (SiO 2 ), Bismuth oxide (Bi 2 O 3 ), Tungsten oxide (WO 3 ), Ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ), Titanium oxide (or titania) (TiO 2 ), zirconium dioxide (or zirconia) ZrO 2 , Neodydium oxide (NdO 3 ), cerium oxide (or ceria) CeO 2 , and lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the oxide is selected from the group consisting of: tin oxide (SnO 2 ), Molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ), and Indium oxide (In 2 O 3 ).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a platinum group metal is attached or deposited on the porous oxide support, and wherein the platinum group metal is selected from the group consisting of: ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum and alloys thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a platinum group metal is attached or deposited on the porous oxide support, and wherein the platinum group metal is palladium or an alloy of palladium.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the oxide is selected from the group consisting of: tin oxide (SnO 2 ), Molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ), and Indium oxide (In 2 O 3 ).

7. The method of claim 1 wherein attaching a platinum group metal, non-platinum group metal, or alloy thereof to porous oxide support comprises chemically or thermally reducing a precursor of the platinum group metal, non-platinum group metal, or alloy thereof onto the surface of the porous oxide support and then heat treating the support.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a platinum group metal or alloy thereof is attached to the porous oxide support and wherein the support is heat treated in a reductive atmosphere.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein a non-platinum group metal or alloy thereof is attached to the porous oxide support and wherein the support is heat treated in an inert atmosphere.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein removal of the sacrificial template particles results in a porous oxide support having an irregular internal morphology.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein removal of the sacrificial template particles results in a porous oxide support that is weakly structured.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein removal of the sacrificial template particles results in an amorphous porous oxide support.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the sacrificial template particles are amorphous.

14. A method for forming a catalytic material comprising:

mixing an oxide precursor with a plurality of sacrificial template particles to produce dispersed oxide-precursor composite particles;

calcining the dispersed oxide-precursor to convert the oxide-precursor to oxide, producing an oxide composite material wherein multiple sacrificial particles are encompassed within the same oxide composite material;

selectively removing the sacrificial template particles without dissolution of the oxide so as to produce a porous oxide support; and

attaching or depositing a platinum group metal, non-platinum group metal, or alloy thereof to the surface of the porous oxide support.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the sacrificial particles are irregularly shaped.