Oxygen reduction reaction activity of platinum nanoparticles decorated nitrogen doped carbon in proton exchange membrane fuel cell under real operating conditions

•Synthesis of nitrogen doped carbon (NC) by a facile technique.•Synthesis of platinum nanoparticles decorated NC (Pt/NC) by polyol reduction method.•Pt/NC for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cell.•Pt/NC exhibits superior ORR activity compared to platinum–carbon composites.

Nitrogen doping significantly improves the electrocatalytic activity of metal decorated carbon nanomaterials. Herein, nitrogen doped carbon (NC) is prepared by a facile method and platinum nanoparticles – decorated NC (Pt/NC) is prepared by polyol reduction technique. Pt/NC is applied as an efficient oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst in proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Membrane electrode assembly is fabricated with platinum decorated carbon as the anode electrocatalyst and Pt/NC as the cathode electrocatalyst. Both single cell measurement and stability study under fuel cell operating conditions reveal that Pt/NC is an alternative for replacing the conventional platinum–carbon composites.