3D boron doped carbon nanorods/carbon-microfiber hybrid composites: synthesis and applications in a highly stable proton exchange membrane fuel cellElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental section, additional schematic figure of the spray CVD apparatus, digital photograph, EELS mapping, XPS of BCNR, and TEM images of Pt nanoparticles on a CNT and a BCNR before and after the fuel cell durability test. See DOI: 10.1039/c1jm13796d

Boron-doped carbon nanorods (BCNRs) were directly grown on carbon-microfiber by the spray pyrolysis chemical vapour deposition method. The stability of the deposited Pt nanoparticles was found to be increased by more than three times with substitutional boron dopants in 3D carbon nanomaterials. Our work will be of great technological significance for developing highly stable electrode materials in fuel cells. The stability of the Pt nanoparticles in fuel cells was found to be increased by more than three times with substitutional boron dopants in 3D carbon nanomaterials.