In this paper, we designed a facile method to prepare nitrogen doped CNT (N-CNT), boron doped CNT (B-CNT) and nitrogen, boron co-doped CNT (N,B-CNT) catalysts for oxygen reduction. The microstructures of the catalysts were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results clearly showed the successful doping of nitrogen or/and boron. The cyclic voltammetry (CV), Tafel, linear scanning voltammetry (LSV) tests confirmed that the onset potentials and peak current intensities of oxygen reduction increased in the sequence of pure CNT < N-CNT < B-CNT < N,B-CNT. The rotating disc electrode (RDE) tests proved the electron transfer number of oxygen reduction increased with the doping of nitrogen, boron and co-doping of nitrogen and boron. The N,B-CNT is a promising catalyst for oxygen reduction. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.