Fuel cell technologies are gaining traction as a sustainable alternative in niche energy markets, but their adoption is hindered, among other factors, by the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, the thermodynamics and kinetics explaining the behavior of these reactions is summarized. An extensive literature review of the state-of-the-art of metal oxide catalysts is reported. A carbon-free support made of nickel and copper doped titanium oxides in different compositions (TONC TiOxNi0.3Cu0.15, TOC TiOxCu0.3, TON TiOxNi0.3) was synthesized through a bottom-up sol-gel method, and deposited with platinum nanoparticles. Physico-chemical characterization (EDX, SEM, XRD and TGA) demonstrated good stability at high temperatures and optimal dispersion of nickel, whereas some copper agglomerates do exist.