Embedding Pt Nanocrystals in N-Doped Porous Carbon/Carbon Nanotubes toward Highly Stable Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Abstract

The development of highly stable and efficient catalysts for sluggish cathode oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is extremely important for the long-term operation and the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) but still challenging. We present herein a facile strategy to efficiently embed Pt nanocrystals into N-doped porous carbon/carbon nanotubes (Pt@CNx/CNT). The N-doped porous carbon shells not only effectively prevented Pt nanocrystals from detachment, dissolution, migration, and aggregation during accelerated durability tests or heat-treatment at 900 °C, but also allowed the access of electrolyte to the Pt surface and preserved the good electron transfer of CNT ..