Iron‐ and Nitrogen‐Containing Carbon Nanotube/Carbide‐Derived Carbon‐Based Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Acidic Conditions

Abstract

Abstract In this work, iron‐ and nitrogen‐doped carbide‐derived carbon and carbon nanotube (CDC/CNT) composites are prepared and used as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts in acidic conditions. Three different approaches are taken to mix iron and nitrogen precursors, namely iron(II) acetate and 1,10‐phenanthroline, with the nanocarbon materials. The doping is done via high‐temperature pyrolysis. The success of doping is proved by several physicochemical methods indicating that iron is atomically dispersed. The Fe−N−C catalyst materials possess similar textural properties with high specific surface area and plenty of pores in different sizes. The evaluation of the ORR activity using the rotating (ring−)disk electrode method shows that the prepared Fe−N−C materials have very similar and good electrocatalytic performance in acidic media and low yield of H2O2 formation. This excellent ORR performance of the Fe−N−C catalyst materials is attributed to the presence of Fe−Nx and pyridinic‐N moieties, as well as a feasible porous structure.

Keywords

• Carbide-derived carbon
• Carbon nanotubes
• Electrocatalysis
• Non-precious metal catalysts
• Oxygen reduction reaction