Nano-structured ternary niobium titanium nitrides as durable non-carbon supports for oxygen reduction reaction.

A novel, highly stable, non-carbon support system for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been discovered in the form of nano-structured (NbxTi1-x)Ns (x = 0.25 and 0.5). Template-free, solid-solid separation synthetic approaches have been used for preparing these materials. The (NbxTi1-x)N materials have high specific surface area and better electronic conductivity than carbon-based supports.