Nitrogen-doped graphite encapsulated Fe/Fe3C nanoparticles and carbon black for enhanced performance towards oxygen reduction

Non-noble metal (NNM) catalysts have recently attracted intensive interest for their high catalytic performance towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at low cost. Herein, a novel NNM catalyst was synthesized by the simple pyrolysis of carbon black, urea and a Fe-containing precursor, which exhibits excellent ORR catalytic activity, superior durability and methanol tolerance versus the Pt/C catalyst in both alkaline and acidic solutions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterizations demonstrate that the product is a nitrogen-doped hybrid of graphite encapsulated Fe/Fe3C nanoparticles and carbon black. X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) and electrochemical analyses indicate that the catalytic performance and chemical stability correlate closely with a nitrogen-rich layer on the Fe/Fe3C nanoparticle after pyrolysis with presence of urea, leading to the same four-electron pathway towards ORR as the Pt/C catalyst. The hybrid is prospective to be an efficient ORR electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cells with high catalytic performance at low cost. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.