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

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.