Issue 24, 2019

Carbon nanotube-linked hollow carbon nanospheres doped with iron and nitrogen as single-atom catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in acidic solutions

Abstract

Non-noble metal electrocatalysts toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are highly required to substitute expensive Pt/C as the cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. However, the relatively low ORR activity of Pt-free catalysts under acidic conditions is the major issue. Herein, we engineered a three-dimensional structure consisting of atomically dispersed Fe, N-doped hollow carbon nanospheres linked by carbon nanotubes as an electrocatalyst for the ORR. Benefiting from the unique structure and high-density atomic Fe–Nx sites, this new type of electrocatalyst showed an impressive ORR half-wave potential of 0.84 V and kinetic current density of 13.1 mA cm−2 at a potential of 0.8 V in acidic media, which was even better those of commercial Pt/C.

Graphical abstract: Carbon nanotube-linked hollow carbon nanospheres doped with iron and nitrogen as single-atom catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in acidic solutions

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
15 yan 2019
Accepted
24 may 2019
First published
28 may 2019

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019,7, 14478-14482

Author version available

Carbon nanotube-linked hollow carbon nanospheres doped with iron and nitrogen as single-atom catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in acidic solutions

J. Li, M. Cheng, T. Li, L. Ma, X. Ruan, D. Liu, H. Cheng, C. Liu, D. Du, Z. Wei, Y. Lin and M. Shao, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019, 7, 14478 DOI: 10.1039/C9TA00508K

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