Web-like 3D Architecture of Pt Nanowires and Sulfur-Doped Carbon Nanotube with Superior Electrocatalytic Performance

Development of highly durable electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is critical for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical performance of 1D sulfur-doped carbon nanotubes (S-CNT) supported 1D Pt nanowires (PtNW/S-CNT). PtNW/S-CNT synthesized by a modified solvothermal method possesses a unique web-like 3D architecture that is beneficial for oxygen reduction. We demonstrate that PtNW/S-CNT exhibits impressive activity retention under potential cycling between 0.05 and 1.5 V vs RHE over 3000 cycles. The reductions in electrochemically active surface area (ECSA, 7% loss) and mass activity (19% loss) of PtNW/S-CNT after accelerated durability testing (ADT) are found to be much lower than the dramatic losses observed with commercial Pt/C (>99% loss in ECSA and mass activity) under identical conditions. The PtNW/S-CNT catalyst also shows very high specific activity (1.61 mA cm–2) in comparison to Pt/C (0.24 mA cm–2).