Ordered mesoporous carbon decorated with rare earth oxide as electrocatalyst support for Pt nanoparticles

Ordered mesoporous carbon with large porosity was surface-modified with PrOx and subsequently deposited with Pt nanoparticles by microwave heating. Transmission electron microscopy images indicated that PrOx could improve the dispersion of Pt nanoparticles. The electrocatalytic activity of Pt catalysts was evaluated according to hydrogen adsorption region of cyclic voltammograms and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Pt/C–PrOx exhibited excellent performance in H2SO4, with a larger electrochemical active area and lower charge-transfer resistance than that of Pt/C. It is mainly due to enhanced dispersion of Pt nanoparticles and improved hydrogen adsorption on support.