Iron phosphide/N, P-doped carbon nanosheets as highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction over the whole pH range. (10th November 2017) - Hu, Kui
Graphical abstract: Highlights: Fex P nanoparticles-decorated N, P-doped mesoporous carbon nanosheets electrocatalysts were prepared with a one-pot way. The Fex P/NPCS catalyst shows outstanding ORR performance over the whole pH range. The Fex P/NPCS holds superior durability. This work broadens the application of iron phosphides in the field of electrocatalysis for fuel cell technologies. Abstract: Developing electrocatalysts with both high activity and low cost for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has attracted much attention. Herein, we fabricated iron phosphide/N, P-doped carbon nanosheets electrocatalysts via a one-pot pyrolysis process without any post-treatments, which shows high ORR activity over the whole pH range. In alkaline solution, the optimal catalyst exhibits almost the same onset potential (0.918 V vs RHE) and half-wave potential (0.832 V vs RHE) with commercial Pt/C (20 wt %), meanwhile it shows prominent catalytic activity compared with Pt/C in acidic and neutral media. Noteworthy, the catalyst catalyzes ORR process following a one-step 4e pathway in all these media and poses better tolerance toward methanol and greater durability than Pt/C. It was proved that Fex P (x = 1 or 2) and N, P-doped carbon synergistically contributed to the high ORR activity for the electrocatalysts. This work would broaden the application of iron phosphides in the field of electrocatalysis.