Crystalline carbon modified hierarchical porous iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon for efficient electrocatalytic oxygen reduction

Hierarchical porous iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon (Fe-N/C) materials have been considered as an appealing non-noble metal-based catalyst in oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). However, the conductivity loss caused by the scattering of electrons on pores and defects markedly limits their catalytic activity, which attracted seldom attention in this area. Herein, a novel crystalline carbon modified hierarchical porous Fe-N/C electrocatalyst with enhanced electronic conductivity is designed and prepared via a two-step calcination-catalysis process. The resistivity of hierarchical porous Fe-N/C is decreased from 2.123 Omega cm to 0.479 Omega cm after crystalline carbon introduction. The electrocatalyst annealed at 800 degrees C (Fe-N/C-800) exhibits a superior activity with the half-wave potential (E-1/2) of 0.89 V, which outperforms the commercial carbon-supported platinum (Pt/C) catalyst (0.85 V). The strategy of crystalline carbon modification provides a fresh approach to improve the electronic conductivity of porous carbon-based materials. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A novel crystalline carbon modified porous iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon electrocatalyst with enhanced electronic conductivity was designed, showing superior activity compared to commercial platinum-based catalyst. The strategy of crystalline carbon modification provides a new approach to improve the electronic conductivity of porous carbon-based materials.