Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2025

Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production
Published on: December 6, 2021
Boron carbon nitride as efficient oxygen reduction reaction support
Fang Liu1, Dazhi Gao1, Fangqing Wang2
1School of Material Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Dingzigu Road 1, Tianjin 300130, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Boron Nitride Micro and Nano Materials, Guangrongdao Road 29, Tianjin 300130, PR China.
Abstract:
The electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for energy conversion systems such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Boron carbon nitrogen (BCN) is a novel functional material with a high specific surface area, excellent corrosion resistance, and outstanding electrochemical stability. These properties make BCN an effective ORR catalyst and a promising support for metal catalysts. This study leveraged the strong interaction between BCN and metals to anchor platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) onto the BCN surface (Pt/BCN), significantly enhancing the durability of traditional Pt/C catalysts in ORR. The half-wave potential of Pt/BCN is 0.927 V, higher than Pt/XC-72R (0.857 V) and commercial Pt/C (0.879 V). Notably, after 10,000 durability test cycles, the mass activity (MA) of Pt/XC-72R and commercial Pt/C decreased by 67 % and 75 %, respectively. Even after 50,000 cycles, Pt/BCN exhibited only a 54 % decrease in MA. Experimental data and density functional theory calculations confirmed increased electron transfer from Pt to the BCN support, indicating a strong electronic metal-support interaction (EMSI) between Pt and BCN. This strong EMSI effectively anchored the Pt NPs, preventing migration and aggregation during the ORR process. Consequently, our research introduces a novel electrocatalyst support material with significant potential for ORR and broader applications.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Alcohols from Carbonyl Compounds: Reduction
Catalytic hydrogenation is similar to the reduction of an alkene or alkyne by adding H2 across the pi bond in the presence of transition metal catalysts like Raney Ni, Pd–C, Pt, or Ru. Aldehydes and ketones can be reduced by this method, often under mild to moderate heat (25–100°C) and...
Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Hydroboration
Hydroboration proceeds in a concerted fashion with the attack of borane on the π bond, giving a cyclic four-centered transition state. The –BH2 group is bonded to the less substituted carbon and –H to the more substituted carbon. The concerted nature requires the simultaneous addition of –H and –BH2 across the same face of the alkene giving syn...

