Solvothermal co-gelation synthesis of N-doped three-dimensional open macro/mesoporous carbon as efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

A facile solvothermal method is developed to synthesize N-doped 3D bicontinuous macro/mesoporous carbon through co-gelation of in-situ polymerized N-enriched resin together with in-situ formed colloidal silica packing domains. The resultant material possesses abundant pyridinic/graphitic N, respectable surface area, and smooth pore channels (interconnected macropores with open mesopores ca. 16 nm). Due to the combined contributions of above features, it shows high oxygen reduction catalytic activity with excellent durability and tolerance to methanol crossover effect. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.