The Role of Lone‐Pair Electrons in Pt–N Interactions for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract An N‐doped carbon with various N concentrations was prepared by using a scalable ball‐milling method. The importance of the lone pair of electrons on the N species for the stability of Pt nanoparticles and their activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction was investigated. X‐ray spectroscopic analysis was used to investigate the interaction between Pt and the pyridinic N. The pyridinic N modified the Pt oxidation state and helped achieve size homogeneity and high catalytic activity by facilitating the rate‐determining step.