Hierarchically porous Fe/N–C hollow spheres derived from melamine/Fe-incorporated polydopamine for efficient oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysis. Issue 12 (8th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Feng, Bomin; Wu, Xiuju; Niu, Yanli; Li, Wei; Yao, Yunxi; Hu, Weihua; Li, Chang Ming
• Is Part Of: Sustainable energy & fuels. Volume 3:Issue 12(2019)
• Page Start: 3455
• Page End: 3461
• Publication Date: 2019-10-08
• Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Electric batteries -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 660.297
• DOI: 10.1039/c9se00686a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2398-4902

Abstract

Abstract : A hollow sphere Fe/N–C catalyst with excellent activity is synthesized via pyrolysis of melamine/Fe-incorporated PDA nanospheres. Abstract : Fe/N–C catalysts show great potential for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) but their catalytic activity should be further improved for practical application. Here, we report a high performance Fe/N–C hollow sphere with excellent ORR activity in both alkaline and acidic solutions. It is synthesized via pyrolysis of a melamine/Fe-incorporated polydopamine nanosphere precursor at 800 °C in an argon atmosphere. The N-rich melamine in the precursor affords abundant N dopants to form dense Fe–N x active sites and also facilitates the formation of micropores in the catalyst via the gasification effect, together improving the ORR activity. The as-reported Fe/N–C catalyst outperforms the Pt/C catalyst in basic media (45 mV more positive half wave potential), approaches the Pt/C catalyst in acidic media (55 mV lower half wave potential), and exhibits impressive performance in Zn–air primary batteries.