Design of Fe,N co-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes for efficient oxygen reduction

Abstract

Unique Fe and N co-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes are designed to efficiently catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The preparation processes involve surface functionalization, subsequent wet impregnation and final thermal fixation of Fe–N_x species. The catalyst achieved outstanding alkaline ORR performance with a very positive half-wave potential (∼0.91 V). Theoretical calculations show that the carbon layer below the active Fe–N_x sites is beneficial to the ORR.