Lattice-strained Pt nanoparticles anchored on petroleum vacuum residue derived N-doped porous carbon as highly active and durable cathode catalysts for PEMFCs

High cost and poor durability of Pt-based cathode catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) severely hamper the popularization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Tailoring carbon support is one of effective strategies for improving the performance of Pt-based catalysts. Herein, petroleum vacuum residue was used as carbon source, and nitrogen-doped porous carbon (N-PPC) was synthesized using a simple template-assisted and secondary calcination method. Small Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs) with an average particles size of 1.8 nm were in-situ prepared and spread evenly on the N-PPC. Interestingly, the lattice compression (1.08%) of Pt NPs on the N-PPC (Pt/N-PPC) was clearly observed by aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), which was also verified by the shift of (111) crystal plane of Pt on N-PPC to higher angles. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results suggest that the N-PPC support had a strong effect on anchoring Pt NPs and endowing surface Pt NPs with lowered d band center. Thus, the Pt/N-PPC as a catalyst simultaneously boosted the ORR activity and durability. The specific activity (SA) and mass activity (MA) of the Pt/N-PPC at 0.9 V reached 0.83 mA cm−2 and 0.37 A mgPt−1, respectively, much higher than those of the commercial Pt/C (0.21 mA cm−2 and 0.11 A mgPt−1) in 0.1 M HClO4. The half-wave potential (E1/2) of Pt/N-PPC exhibited only a minimal negative shift of 7 mV after 30,000 accelerated durability tests (ADT) cycles. More importantly, an H2–O2 fuel cell with a Pt/N-PPC cathode achieved a power density of 866 mW cm−2, demonstrating that the prepared catalyst has a promising application potential in working environment of PEMFCs.