Rational design and synthesis of one-dimensional platinum-based nanostructures for oxygen-reduction electrocatalysis

Fuel cells have attracted extensive attention due to their high conversion efficiency and environmental friendliness. However, their wider application is limited by the poor activity and high cost of platinum (Pt), which is widely used as the cathode catalyst to overcome the slow kinetics associated with oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Pt-based composites with one-dimensional (1D) nanoarchitectures demonstrate great advantages towards efficient ORR catalysis. This review focuses on the recent advancements in the design and synthesis of 1D Pt-based ORR catalysts. After introducing the fundamental ORR mechanism and the advanced 1D architectures, their synthesis strategies (template-based and template-free methods) are discoursed. Subsequently, their morphology and structure optimization are highlighted, followed by the superstructure assembly using 1D Pt-based blocks. Finally, the challenges and perspectives on the synthesis innovation, structure design, physical characterization, and theoretical investigations are proposed for 1D Pt-based ORR nanocatalysts. We anticipate this study will inspire more research endeavors on efficient ORR nanocatalysts in fuel cell application.