High Activity of Platinum-Cobalt Supported by Natto-like N-Doped Carbon Sphere as Durable Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

This study demonstrates a platinum and cobalt alloy (PtCo) supported by natto-like N-doped carbon spheres (n-NCS), denoted as PtCo/n-NCS, showing excellent catalytic activity and high durability for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). PtCo/n-NCS demonstrate the electron-transfer number of 3.98 and only the decay of 53 mV on half-wave potential after 30 000 cycles. PtCo/n-NCS contribute a high Pt mass activity of 823.01 mA mgPt–1 at 0.80 V, compared to Pt/C and PtCo/C with 105.46 and 235.20 mA mgPt–1, respectively. n-NCS provide a large surface area to increase NCS for the utilization of PtCo catalysts and a large amount of the graphitic-N structures to enhance the four-electron transfer. Therefore, PtCo/n-NCS have a superior ORR activity, making them the promising catalysts for the ORR.