In the search for active cathode catalysts for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) using inexpensive materials several valve metal oxide electrodes TiOx ZrOx, and TaOx with corresponding binary oxide electrodes were selected for the evaluation of catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) by means of cyclic voltammetry in 0 1 M HClO4 at 60 C These oxide electrodes were prepared mainly by the dip-coating method on a titanium plate substrate at a temperature between 400 degrees C and 500 degrees C and were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) Among the oxide-coated electrodes investigated Ti-0 Zr-7(0) O-3(x)/Ti provided the highest ORR specific activity with an onset potential E-ORR of 0 86V vs RHE during the cathodic potential sweep Fine TaOx particles prepared as an extension of the dip-coating method showed very high catalytic activity determined by means of hydrodynamic voltammetry in 0 1 M HClO4 at 30 degrees C with an E-ORR of 0 90 V vs RHE (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved