Heteroatom doped graphdiyne as efficient metal-free electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline medium

The commercialization of fuel cells and metal-air batteries can only be realized if expensive and scarce platinum-based catalysts are replaced by lower cost, efficient, and durable catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Along with intensive research efforts in developing low-cost, metal-free catalysts to replace platinum-based catalysts, heteroatom doped graphitic carbon materials (especially graphene and carbon nanotubes) have been demonstrated to show superior ORR performance. However, graphdiyne, another member of the carbon family, has not been completely studied as an electrocatalyst for the ORR. We demonstrate here that nitrogen and fluorine co-doped, metal-free graphdiyne exhibits comparable electrocatalytic activity to commercial Pt/C both in half-cell and full-cell (primary Zn-air battery) tests, regarding its onset potential and limiting current density. Moreover, the new catalyst has better stability, as well as a higher tolerance to methanol crossover and CO poisoning effects, than the commercial Pt/C.