Iron- and Nitrogen-Containing Carbon Nanotube/Carbide-Derived Carbon-Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Acidic Conditions

In this work, iron- and nitrogen-doped carbide-derived carbon and carbon nanotube (CDC/CNT) composites are prepared and used as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts in acidic conditions. Three different approaches are taken to mix iron and nitrogen precursors, namely iron(II) acetate and 1,10-phenanthroline, with the nanocarbon materials. The doping is done via high-temperature pyrolysis. The success of doping is proved by several physicochemical methods indicating that iron is atomically dispersed. The Fe-N-C catalyst materials possess similar textural properties with high specific surface area and plenty of pores in different sizes. The evaluation of the ORR activity using the rotating (ring-)disk electrode method shows that the prepared Fe-N-C materials have very similar and good electrocatalytic performance in acidic media and low yield of H2O2 formation. This excellent ORR performance of the Fe-N-C catalyst materials is attributed to the presence of Fe-Nx and pyridinic-N moieties, as well as a feasible porous structure. Fe-N-C catalyst materials for oxygen reduction reaction in acidic media were prepared. Carbide-derived carbon/carbon nanotube composite was doped with iron and nitrogen using pyrolysis. The effect of mixing precursors via different methods (ultrasonication vs ball-milling) and acid treatment was studied. Single-atom catalysts with good electrocatalytic activity and excellent stability were obtained. image