Issue 21, 2019

Enhancement mechanism of sulfur dopants on the catalytic activity of N and P co-doped three-dimensional hierarchically porous carbon as a metal-free oxygen reduction electrocatalyst

Abstract

Doping carbon networks with multi-heteroatoms is one of the most effective ways to achieve a carbon-based metal-free electrocatalyst with a superior activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, multi-heteroatom doped three-dimensional hierarchically micro/mesoporous carbon was synthesized as an efficient metal-free electrocatalyst towards ORR by pyrolyzing thiourea (THU) with nitrogen- and phosphorus-doped (N- and P-doped) hierarchically porous carbon networks derived from cattle bone. The obtained sulfur, nitrogen and phosphorus ternary-doped (S, N and P ternary-doped) carbon material has both a high porosity for effective mass transport of ORR reactants and abundant surface active sites for efficient ORR. As identified by X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy, the S dopant in the reduced form (SRed) plays a major role during the ORR catalytic process. When used as an ORR electrocatalyst, the S, N and P ternary-doped carbon with the highest content of SRed outperformed the commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst in alkaline electrolytes with a superior electrocatalytic activity (∼40 mV higher half-wave potential), outstanding electrochemical durability and a good anti-poisoning capability. This work presents an effective approach for the design and synthesis of efficient metal-free ORR electrocatalysts from earth-abundant cattle bone and analogues.

Graphical abstract: Enhancement mechanism of sulfur dopants on the catalytic activity of N and P co-doped three-dimensional hierarchically porous carbon as a metal-free oxygen reduction electrocatalyst

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 ذو القعدة 1440
Accepted
19 ذو الحجة 1440
First published
20 ذو الحجة 1440

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2019,9, 5906-5914

Enhancement mechanism of sulfur dopants on the catalytic activity of N and P co-doped three-dimensional hierarchically porous carbon as a metal-free oxygen reduction electrocatalyst

Y. Zan, Z. Zhang, M. Dou and F. Wang, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2019, 9, 5906 DOI: 10.1039/C9CY01387C

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