Fe, N-doped carbon spheres prepared by electrospinning method as high efficiency oxygen reduction catalyst. Issue 2 (3rd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zou, Hanzeng; Pei, Supeng; Zhou, Zongshang; Chen, Zhaoyan; Xiong, Xia; Sun, Yueyang; Zhang, Yongming
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 10:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 779
• Page End: 783
• Publication Date: 2020-01-03
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c9ra08951a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Fe, N-doped carbon spheres as high-efficiency ORR catalysts were prepared by a facile electrospinning process. Abstract : Electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are crucial in metal–air batteries, fuel cells and other electrochemical devices. In this study, iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon sphere electrocatalysts were synthesized by electrospinning and thermal treatment. According to the results, the catalyst marked as Fe–N/MCS-181 (Fe, N-doped mesoporous carbon spheres, iron nitrate nonahydrate as the iron source) has not only the highest iron content, which reaches up to 0.13%, but also a spherical shape. And its pore sizes are 11 and 35 nm. For the electrochemical performance, the onset potential ( E onset ) of Fe–N/MCS-181 is −0.018 V, while the half-wave potential ( E 1/2 ) of Fe–N/MCS-181 is −0.145 V, which is better than the commercial Pt/C catalyst ( E 1/2 is −0.18 V). The durability of the Fe–N/MCS-181 catalyst is better than commercial Pt/C. After 10 000 s, the retention ratio of current density is 86.4%, while that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst is 84.2%. At the same time, the methanol tolerance of the Fe–N/MCS-181 catalyst is also excellent. After adding methanol, the current density of the Fe–N/MCS-181 catalyst has no obvious change. This study provides an easy method to fabricate a highly efficient and durable Fe, N-doped carbon catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction.