Regulating the evolution of interfacial species via B, N-codoped Pt sites for oxygen reduction electrocatalysis

The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) poses significant limitations to the widespread application of the ORR in advanced energy systems. Here, we present a composite catalyst consisting of Pt nanoparticles immobilized on 3D B, N-doped graphene oxide (Pt/GO-BCN). Through X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation infrared spectroscopy analyses, we discovered that the codoping of B and N significantly regulates the electronic structure of graphene and enhances the interaction between Pt nanoparticles and the supports. The electronic state-optimized 3D support promotes the uniform distribution of Pt nanoparticles with small size, forming a low-resistance interfacial environment to accelerate the cleavage of the *OOH species during the reaction process. The ORR activity and selectivity of Pt/GO-BCN significantly surpass those of commercial Pt/C catalysts, and excellent durability under long-term operation is achieved. These results provide a new avenue for the design of advanced Pt-based catalysts.