Abstract

Highly graphitic carbon nanomaterials with large specific surface area and good dispersion are very favorable supports for Pt-based catalysts in fuel cells. Ultrathin and coiled carbon nanosheets (UC-CNS) were successfully synthesized via chemical vapor deposition method using tungsten carbide (WC) as substrate. After the WC@UC-CNS was immersed in HF/HNO3/H2O solution, UC-CNS was completely stripped away from the WC substrate without obvious destruction, and possessed coiled edges and more oxygen-containing functional groups for anchoring Pt nanoparticles. Another obtained product (WO3) could be used as a tungsten source to produce UC-CNS repeatedly. The purified UC-CNS, with thicknesses of 3.45–5.61 nm, possessed high specific surface area (547 m2 g−1) and high degree of graphitization (IG/ID=1.43). Pt loaded on the UC-CNS exhibited high electrocatalytic activity and extremely high stability for methanol oxidation reaction even after 14,000 potential cycles. We believe UC-CNS can be widely used in fuel cells and other related green chemical applications.

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