First principles study of oxygen molecule interaction with the graphitic active sites of a boron-doped pyrolyzed Fe–N–C catalyst

Abstract

We study the adsorption and the dissociation of O₂ molecules on the active sites of a boron-doped pyrolyzed Fe–N–C catalyst using density functional theory. Initially, we determine the possible structure of the FeN₄ active site of the pyrolyzed Fe–N–C catalyst doped with a boron atom by considering the presence of a nitrogen atom as a metal-free site. The most stable configuration of the structure occurs when the boron and nitrogen atoms coalesce with the FeN₄ site forming a complex site. This structure has higher stability compared to the undoped FeN₄ site. The doped FeN₄ possesses the unique ability to adsorb an oxygen molecule in a side-on mode due to the presence of the boron–nitrogen pair acting as a supporting site. One O atom of the O₂ molecule sticks strongly to the top of the iron atom, while the other binds with the boron atom. This O₂ side-on adsorption stretches the O–O bond length by 15%. Furthermore, the examined catalyst surface can dissociate the oxygen molecule easily with only half the energy barrier of the undoped FeN₄ structure.