Electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction by iron-containing nitrogen-doped carbon aerogels in alkaline solution

Iron-containing nitrogen-doped carbon aerogels (CAs) were prepared by pyrolysis of organic aerogels of variable composition synthesised from melamine, 5-methylresorciribl and 2,6-dihydroxy-4-methyl-benzoic acid. The structure and composition of the catalyst materials were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy and N-2-adsorption analysis. The electrocatalytic activity of CAs for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was evaluated using the rotating disk electrode (RDE) method in alkaline solution and increase of the ORR activity with increasing the nitrogen and iron content was revealed. Low peroxide production on Fe-containing N-doped CA-based catalysts and their high methanol tolerance suggest that these could be suitable cathode catalysts for alkaline fuel cells. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.