Improved Platinum Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction Using Nitrogen-Modified Carbon Support

Platinum electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction have been prepared by impregnation of platinum acetylacetonate on pristine and NH3 treated Black Pearls. The subsequent heat treatment leads to electrochemical active platinum particles in nmscale (2 - 3 nm). By electrochemical measurements (CV and RDE), the platinum surface properties and their activity in the ORR were investigated. Structural and chemical analysis of the catalysts have been performed by means of XPS, XRD and TEM. From the correlation between the electrochemical and structural results it can be concluded that the nitrogen modified carbon surface provides an improved linkage of the platinum particles to the carbon surface. Furthermore the chemical functionalisation of the support takes obviously influence on the surface formation of the platinum nanoparticles so that their electrochemical activity is increased.