High-performance electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction derived from copolymer networks and iron(ii) acetate

Abstract

A novel non-precious-metal electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is prepared by the pyrolysis of copolymer networks (CPN) in the presence of iron(II) acetate. 2,4,6-Tripyrrol-1,3,5-triazine (TPT) and pyrrole (Py) are selected as the building blocks for the fabrication of a nitrogen-rich network copolymer that forms a self-supporting spherical structure and contains a high density of metal-coordination sites. The CPN is synthesized by a scalable, one-step Friedel–Crafts reaction of a TPT and Py mixture with dimethoxymethane. The as-prepared Fe–N_TP/C-900 (pyrolyzed at 900 °C) exhibits high ORR activity in alkaline media with onset and half-wave potentials about 50 and 65 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) higher than those of the Pt/C catalyst. Meanwhile, the Fe–N_TP/C-900 catalyst shows relatively excellent ORR activity in acidic media with onset and half-wave potentials only 15 and 55 mV lower than those of the Pt/C catalyst. Overall, the as-synthesized Fe–N_TP/C-900 is a potential candidate as a high activity, stable, and low-cost ORR catalyst for FCs.