Tungsten oxide nanowires grown on carbon paper as Pt electrocatalyst support for high performance proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Tungsten oxide nanowires (W18O49 NWs) were directly grown on carbon paper by chemical vapor deposition. Well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles, with a size distribution from 2 to 4 nm, were deposited on the surface of W18O49 NWs through a simple reductive process. The resulting Pt/W18O49 NW/carbon paper composites formed a three-dimensional electrode structure. In comparison to conventional Pt/C electrocatalyst, the Pt/W18O49 NW/carbon paper composite exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction and better CO tolerance in a single cell polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.