Air plasma etching towards rich active sites in Fe/N-porous carbon for the oxygen reduction reaction with superior catalytic performance. Issue 32 (31st July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhong, Wenhua; Chen, Jiaxiang; Zhang, Peixin; Deng, Libo; Yao, Lei; Ren, Xiangzhong; Li, Yongliang; Mi, Hongwei; Sun, Lingna
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 5:Issue 32(2017)
• Page Start: 16605
• Page End: 16610
• Publication Date: 2017-07-31
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c7ta05035f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : Plasma etching removed less stable carbons and exposed the active sites in Fe–N/C catalysts which resulted in excellent performances towards the oxygen reduction reaction in both acidic and alkaline media. Abstract : Herein, an electrocatalyst consisting of iron and nitrogen co-doped porous carbon (Fe–N/C) was prepared by catalytic carbonization of chitin with the assistance of FeCl3 and ZnCl2 . The catalytic activity of Fe–N/C towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes was significantly enhanced by air-plasma etching for only 120 s, showing a four-electron ORR process with an onset potential and limiting current comparable to those of Pt catalysts. This performance enhancement originated from the removal of less stable sp 3 and amorphous sp 2 carbons which would expose more active catalytic FeN4 centers, as well as the transformation of a small fraction of iron-based nanoparticles into FeN4 species.