Fe,N-doped graphene prepared by NH3 plasma with a high performance for oxygen reduction reaction

To obtain a low cost and high performance non-noble metal catalysts and replace noble metal catalysts such as Pt-based catalysts in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are of a significant importance for sustainable energy conversion. A kind of Fe,N-doped graphene prepared by NH3 plasma as a promising alternative was prepared. Various characterizations including XRD, TEM, XPS and BET were carried out. The results of XRD and XPS characterizations indicate that GO reduction and Fe,N-doping were achieved simultaneously after NH3 plasma treatment. There is a large amount of pyridinic N (up to 68.19% of the total nitrogen content) on the surface of Fe,N-GO-P. Fe particle in Fe,N-GO-P is so small that they cannot be found in the images of HRTEM. Compared with the Fe,N-GO-C, Fe,N-GO-P has a large specific surface area. Although the onset potential is negative, but it exhibits a high limiting current density and durability in alkaline medium. The mechanism of ORR on Fe,N-GO-P has been revealed that is,N-G a quasi-four electron reaction pathway Fe,N-GO-P mainly followed.