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Pt‐Like Oxygen Reduction Activity Induced by Cost‐Effective MnFeO 2 /N‐Carbon
Author(s) -
Zhou Qixing,
Su Zhangbin,
Tang Yidan,
Ai Li,
Fu Gengtao,
Wu Zexing,
Sun Dongmei,
Tang Yawen
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201900638
Subject(s) - pyrolysis , carbon fibers , catalysis , chemical engineering , methanol , materials science , electrochemistry , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , composite number , electrode , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering
The development of effective and affordable electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is critical for the renewable‐energy technologies. Here, we present a new manganese iron oxide (MnFeO 2 ) as a cost‐effective material for the ORR with Pt‐like electrochemical properties. Pyrolysis of hybrid agar hydrogel on NaCl nanocrystals furnishes a unique structure in which the active MnFeO 2 particles are uniformly immobilized in the nitrogen‐doped porous carbon aerogels (MnFeO 2 /NPC). Nitrogen‐doped carbon is introduced to construct porous mass‐transfer channels and reduce self‐aggregation of the MnFeO 2 particles. It is found that the formation of the MnFeO 2 phase greatly depends on the pyrolysis temperature. Benefiting from the synergy of MnFeO 2 and NPC, the MnFeO 2 /NPC can actually be as good as the Pt/C catalyst for the ORR, with an onset‐potential of 0.98 V and a half‐wave potential of 0.86 V, combined with demonstrating a superior stability and tolerance to methanol.