Rational design and synthesis of hollow Fe-N/C electrocatalysts for enhanced oxygen reduction reaction

Herein, we report a one-step synthesis of a hollow Fe-N/C catalyst via a hard-templating strategy, in which FeNx sites are well dispersed on the carbon sphere. In particular, we found an optimal iron ratio on the catalyst surface for an enhanced alkaline oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The catalyst with a high specific surface area of 311.71 m(2) g(-1) exposes abundant electroactive sites that facilitate the adsorption of oxygen intermediates, thus exhibiting superior ORR activity in alkaline solution.

Automated summary

In this study, a hollow Fe-N/C catalyst was synthesized via a hard-templating strategy with well-dispersed FeNx sites on carbon spheres. Optimizing the iron ratio on the catalyst surface enhanced the alkaline ORR activity. With a high specific surface area of 311.71 m(2) g(-1), the catalyst exhibited superior ORR activity in alkaline solution due to abundant electroactive sites facilitating the adsorption of oxygen intermediates.