Mesoporous metal-nitrogen-doped carbon electrocatalysts for highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Hai Wei Liang - , Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Author)
  • Wei Wei - , Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Author)
  • Zhong Shuai Wu - , Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Author)
  • Xinliang Feng - , Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Author)
  • Klaus Müllen - , Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Author)

Abstract

A family of mesoporous nonprecious metal (NPM) catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic media, including cobalt-nitrogen-doped carbon (C-N-Co) and iron-nitrogen-doped carbon (C-N-Fe), was prepared from vitamin B12 (VB12) and the polyaniline-Fe (PANI-Fe) complex, respectively. Silica nanoparticles, ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15, and montmorillonite were used as templates for achieving mesoporous structures. The most active mesoporous catalyst was fabricated from VB12 and silica nanoparticles and exhibited a remarkable ORR activity in acidic medium (half-wave potential of 0.79 V, only ∼58 mV deviation from Pt/C), high selectivity (electron-transfer number >3.95), and excellent electrochemical stability (only 9 mV negative shift of half-wave potential after 10 000 potential cycles). The unprecedented performance of these NPM catalysts in ORR was attributed to their well-defined porous structures with a narrow mesopore size distribution, high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area (up to 572 m2/g), and homogeneous distribution of abundant metal-Nx active sites.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)16002-16005
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume135
Issue number43
Publication statusPublished - 30 Oct 2013
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes