Nitrogen-doped carbon coated ZrO2 as a support for Pt nanoparticles in the oxygen reduction reaction

• Nitrogen-doped carbon coated ZrO2 was prepared by carbonizing polypyrrole.
• Well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles can be easily formed on the ZrO2@CNx.
• Pt deposited on ZrO2@CNx support showed high activity for ORR.

A new nitrogen-doped carbon (CNx) support for Pt electrocatalysts was prepared by carbonizing polypyrrole on the surface of ZrO2 (ZrO2@CNx) at high temperature. Well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles were easily formed on the ZrO2@CNx. The electrocatalyst was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, TEM, XPS. The electrochemical performances indicate that the presence of ZrO2 modified the electro-structure of Pt on the catalyst surface and that ZrO2@CNx had superior oxygen reduction activity compared to a nitrogen-doped carbon coated carbon (C@CNx).

Nitrogen-doped carbon (CNx) coated on ZrO2 is a novel support for Pt electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction, which show a good catalytic due to the support effect.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide