Ordered mesoporous carbon decorated with rare earth oxide as electrocatalyst support for Pt nanoparticles

Ordered mesoporous carbon with large porosity was surface-modified with PrO_x and subsequently deposited with Pt nanoparticles by microwave heating. Transmission electron microscopy images indicated that PrO_x could improve the dispersion of Pt nanoparticles. The electrocatalytic activity of Pt catalysts was evaluated according to hydrogen adsorption region of cyclic voltammograms and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Pt/C–PrO_x exhibited excellent performance in H₂SO₄, with a larger electrochemical active area and lower charge-transfer resistance than that of Pt/C. It is mainly due to enhanced dispersion of Pt nanoparticles and improved hydrogen adsorption on support.