Fe-N-doped porous carbon from petroleum asphalt for highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Fe-N-doped porous carbon derived from petroleum asphalt (NPCA) was prepared via a facile template synthesis method, with urea as nitrogen source while alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles as template and Fe source. The as-prepared NPCA calcined at 900 degrees C (NPCA-900) exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance with high diffusion-limiting current density and stability comparable to those of commercial Pt/C catalysts in alkaline environment. The remarkable ORR performance of NPCA could be ascribed to the abundant porosity, large specific surface area (1060 m(2) g(-1)), as well as the doping of Fe-N (especially pyridinic N). The NPCA derived from cheap petroleum asphalt has good application future in the field of catalysis, while it may pave a new way to realize the clean and high value utilization of heavy oils. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.