Highly effective Fe-N-C electrocatalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction originated from 2,6-diaminopyridine

Fe-N-C electrocatalysts have been intensively studied due to their extraordinary catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here we prepare a Fe-N-C electrocatalyst through cost-effective and nontoxic precursors of 2,6-diaminopyridine (DAP) and FeCl3, where iron ions react with DAP to formed Fe-N-x species first, followed by polymerization and pyrolysis. X-ray diffraction patterns display no obvious Fe2O3 peaks observed in the catalyst as the nominal content of iron addition is less than 10 wt%. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra indicate that the catalyst has rich pyridinic nitrogen, graphitic nitrogen and Fe-N-x species, which are considered as active sites for ORR. Therefore the catalyst demonstrates an excellent catalytic activity with an onset potential of about 0.96 V, half-wave potential of about 0.84 V, and a limiting current density of 5.8 mA cm(-2), better than commercial Pt/C catalyst in an alkaline medium. Furthermore its stability is also much more excellent than that of Pt/C. This work provides a strategy to synthesize universal M-N-C catalysts.

Automated summary

The Fe-N-C catalyst prepared using 2,6-diaminopyridine and FeCl3 displayed excellent catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), outperforming commercial Pt/C catalyst in an alkaline medium. With rich pyridinic nitrogen, graphitic nitrogen, and Fe-N-x species as active sites, the catalyst showed an onset potential of about 0.96 V, a half-wave potential of about 0.84 V, and a limiting current density of 5.8 mA cm(-2), with superior stability compared to Pt/C. This work provides a strategy for synthesizing universal M-N-C catalysts.