Self-template synthesized 2D porous carbon with FeA@Fe-N-C sites as oxygen electrocatalysts for Zn-Air and membraneless methanol fuel cells

The development of low-cost, high-performance, highly stable and methanol-resistant oxygen reduction (ORR) electrocatalysts is vital for zinc-air batteries (ZAB) and membraneless direct methanol fuel cells (ML-DMFC). In this study, 2D porous materials (L-FeA@Fe-NC-1 h) were prepared by consuming self-templates to regulate the active sites of the catalysts in a simple manner. In the L-5%-FeA@Fe-NC-1 h structure, the austenitic Fe (FeA) particles (15 nm) were wrapped by Fe and N co-doped carbon nanosheets. The L-5%-FeA@ Fe-NC-1 h material exhibited excellent ORR performance in alkaline electrolytes. The L-5%-FeA@Fe-NC-1 h catalyst exhibited outstanding stability and resistance to methanol. Furthermore, the ZAB with L-5%-FeA@ Fe-NC-1 h as the ORR electrocatalyst exhibited outstanding power density and long-term operational sta-bility. The L-5%-FeA@Fe-NC-1 h can be practically applied as a cathode catalyst of ML-DMFC with con-siderable power density. Therefore, this work provides a simple and reliable control scheme to obtain the optimal catalyst and provides an easy method for the preparation of ORR catalysts with low cost and high quality and stability.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, 2D porous materials were prepared by consuming self-templates to regulate the active sites of the catalysts in a simple manner. The materials exhibited excellent ORR performance in alkaline electrolytes, outstanding stability and resistance to methanol. Furthermore, zinc-air batteries with these materials as the ORR electrocatalyst exhibited outstanding power density and long-term operational stability. The materials can also be applied as a cathode catalyst of membraneless direct methanol fuel cells with considerable power density.