Transition metal/nitrogen dual-doped mesoporous graphene-like carbon nanosheets for the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions

Abstract

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have been considered as a key step in energy conversion processes. Here, a novel and simple Mg(OH)₂ nanocasting method is adopted to fabricate Co and N co-doped porous graphene-like carbon nanosheets (Co@N-PGCS) by using chitosan as both carbon and N sources. The as-obtained Co@N-PGCS shows a mesopore-dominated structure as well as a high specific surface area (1716 cm² g⁻¹). As a bifunctional electrocatalyst towards both the ORR and OER, it shows favorable ORR performance compared with the commercial Pt/C catalyst with an onset potential of −0.075 V and a half-wave potential of −0.151 V in 0.1 M KOH solutions. Furthermore, it also displays considerable OER properties compared with commercial IrO₂. The effective catalytic activity could originate from the introduction of transition metal species and few-layer mesoporous carbon structures.