Nitrogen-doped carbon coated ZrO_2 as a support for Pt nanoparticles in the oxygen reduction reaction

摘要

A new nitrogen-doped carbon (CN_x) support for Pt electrocatalysts was prepared by carbonizing polypyrrole on the surface of ZrO_2 (ZrO_2@CN_x) at high temperature. Well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles were easily formed on the ZrO_2@CN_x. The electrocatalyst was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, TEM, XPS. The electrochemical performances indicate that the presence of ZrO_2 modified the electro-structure of Pt on the catalyst surface and that ZrO_2@CN_x had superior oxygen reduction activity compared to a nitrogen-doped carbon coated carbon (C@CN_x).