2D polyacrylonitrile brush derived nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets for high-performance electrocatalysts in oxygen reduction reaction

Graphene carbanions were prepared and used as initiators for the anionic polymerization of acrylonitrile on a graphene surface. The obtained nanosheets of polyacrylonitrile-grafted reduced graphene oxide (PAN-g-RGO) show high dispersibility in various organic solvents such as dimethylformamide and tetrahydrofuran (similar to 2 mg mL(-1)), large aspect ratio, and low thickness, and can be used as precursors for the construction of nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (NCNSs). The nitrogen content of the NCNSs can reach up to 11.2 wt% after the thermal treatment of PAN-g-RGO at 600 degrees C. Remarkably, such NCNSs exhibit a large surface area (similar to 217 m(2) g(-1)) and outstanding electrochemical performance for the oxygen reduction reaction (n = similar to 3.9, J(K) = similar to 21.1 mA cm (2), and half-wave-potential = similar to 0.24 V) in 0.1 M KOH. The synthetic strategy described in this work provides a new and easy access to two-dimensional polymer brushes as well as to porous carbon nanosheets with unique functional properties.