Carbon material supported hollow metal oxide nanoparticles, methods and applications

An electrode comprising:

• a conductive substrate;
• and
• a coating located upon the conductive substrate and including a material composition comprising:
• a carbon material support;
• and
• a hollow transition metal oxide nanoparticle supported upon the carbon material support, wherein the hollow transition metal oxide nanoparticle material has a hollow volume percentage from about 20 to about 60 percent,
• wherein the hollow volume includes:
• a primary void of greater than about 50 nm;
• a plurality of secondary voids of less than about 10 nm;
• and
• a uniform elemental distribution of metal and oxygen across the nanoparticle.

A method for preparing a material composition comprising:

• impregnating a carbon material support with a transition metal salt to form a transition metal salt impregnated carbon material support;
• thermally annealing the transition metal salt impregnated carbon material support within a reducing environment to provide a reduced transition metal particle supported on the carbon material support;
• and
• thermally annealing the reduced transition metal particle supported on the carbon material support within an oxidizing environment to provide a hollow transition metal oxide nanoparticle supported on the carbon material support, wherein:
• the hollow transition metal oxide nanoparticle has a hollow volume percentage from about 20 to about 60 percent, wherein the hollow volume includes:
• a primary void of greater than about 50 nm;
• a plurality of secondary voids of less than about 10 nm;
• and
• a uniform elemental distribution of metal and oxygen across the nanoparticle.