Template synthesis of zirconia nanochains and their application as a stable support for platinum based catalysts

• ZrO2 nanochains were synthesized by using LBL assembly on CNT template in combination with subsequent calcinations.
• The growth mechanism of ZrO2 nanochains was addressed.
• Pt/ZrO2-nanochains catalyst showed long-term durability under severe operating conditions.

Zirconia (ZrO2) nanochains were synthesized through carbon nanotubes (CNTs) template method. The morphological study by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed that ZrO2 nanochains were composed of linked ZrO2 nanoparticles with 10–20 nm in diameters. The growth mechanism was addressed by analyzing the experimental conditions and characterization result. The electrochemical study of ZrO2 nanochains indicates that Pt/ZrO2-nanochains have excellent durability as compared to the commercial Pt/C catalyst.