Enabling carbon nanofibers with significantly improved graphitization and homogeneous catalyst deposition for high performance electrocatalysts

ABSTRACT A facile and effective method is developed for the fabrication of ideal support and corresponding excellent catalysts. After spontaneous deposition of MnO 2 onto electrospun carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in a solution of KMnO 4 and subsequent thermal annealing, MnO-CNF hybrids with significantly enhanced graphitic structure and homogeneous surfaces defects are obtained. Further treatment with the solutions of H 2 PtCl 6 and NaBH 4 affords the resulting catalysts with codeposited Pt and MnO 2 nanoparticles. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time to simultaneously realize the combination of enhanced graphitization, uniform surface defects, and self N-doping of the carbon support materials. Compared to commercial Pt/XC72R and the counterparts without catalytic graphitization, Pt/MnO 2 -CNF exhibits significantly improved electrochemical active surface area, better CO tolerance for methanol electro-oxidation and excellent electrochemical durability.