Nanoporous Ptⁿ⁺–CeO_{x catalyst films grown on carbon substrates

Deposition of the Pt doped cerium oxide catalyst layers on carbon nanotubes and flat carbon substrates by magnetron sputtering leads to growth of solid solution films composed of nanorods oriented perpendicularly to the substrate surface forming fractal like highly porous structure. The films contain only cationic Pt2+ and Pt4+. Cerium oxide is partially reduced. The catalyst films reveal high catalytic activity as anode catalyst in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Preparation of nanoporous structures by sputtering shows that this technique is suitable for preparation of catalyst for micro fuel cell systems made by planar technology.