Simple and Efficient Method for Screening Electrocatalyst Supports at the Single Nanoparticle Level

Catalyst supports can efficiently regulate the activity and stability of catalysts. However, the development of an efficient catalyst support is currently based on trial and error and is very time-consuming. Herein, we propose a rapid electrochemical screening method for heteroatom-doped carbon supports to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of PtNPs at the single nanoparticle (NP) level, without an inhomogeneous averaging contribution. When individual PtNPs collide at a functionalized carbon nanocone electrode with different heteroatom (X) doping, a catalytic structure of Pt–X–C is constructed, enabling the rapid screening of potential heteroatom-doped carbon supports. Our results demonstrate that the PtNPs on a nitrogen and phosphorus dual-doped carbon support exhibit excellent ORR performance. This work provides a simple and efficient method for screening highly efficient electrocatalyst supports at the single NP level.