Recent progress of electrospun porous carbon-based nanofibers for oxygen electrocatalysis

Oxygen electrocatalysis including oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction is key to improve conversion efficiency of metal-air batteries. Noble metals are accepted for oxygen electrocatalysis, but their scarcity and poor durability largely inhibit their wide commercial application. Onedimensional (1D) porous carbon-based materials (e.g. carbon-supported transition metals and heteroatom-doped carbon) are the promising alternatives for noble metal-based catalysts, owing to more exposed active sites, high electronic conductivity, and good mechanical strength. However, achieving favorable 1D porous carbon-based materials remains a great challenge. Electrospinning technology accompanied by post-treatments (e.g. preoxidation and annealing) is considered to be a facile and universal strategy for the preparation of porous carbon-based nanofibers. This review focuses on recent progress in designing of porous carbon-based nanofibers via electrospinning technology for oxygen electrocatalysis. A brief introduction of the electrospinning principles is provided and discussed firstly. Then, a classified introduction and discussion of electrospun porous carbon-based nanofibers in terms of preparation and application in oxygen electrocatalysis is highlighted. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives on the synthesis and electrocatalytic applications of electrospun porous carbon-based nanofibers are proposed. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Noble metals are efficient in oxygen electrocatalysis but limited by scarcity and poor durability, leading to a search for alternatives such as 1D porous carbon-based materials. Electrospinning technology offers a promising strategy for creating porous carbon-based nanofibers with more active sites, high conductivity, and good mechanical strength. The challenges and future prospects of electrospun porous carbon-based nanofibers for electrocatalytic applications are discussed in this review.