Oxidized carbon/nano-SiC supported platinum nanoparticles as highly stable electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

• The oxidized carbon/SiC (O-C/SiC) was prepared using by an acid-etching method.
• The Pt/O–C/SiC had greater stability in comparison to Pt/C.
• The Pt/O–C/SiC showed a high catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction.

Nano-SiC particles with derived carbon shells were prepared by an acid-etching method at room temperature. The mixture solutions of concentrated HF and HNO3 were chosen to etch the nano-SiC particles, and an amorphous carbon shell absorbed by oxygen functional groups was formed on the SiC surface. The oxidized carbon/SiC (O-C/SiC) particles were used as supports for preparation of Pt electrocatalysts. The O-C/SiC supported Pt electrocatalysts showed a high catalytic activity and an excellent stability for oxygen reduction reaction. The improved stability can be ascribed to the anchoring effect of the carbon shell to Pt NPs and the high stability of nano-SiC core.