Open AccessMetal‐Free B, N co‐Doped Hierarchical Porous Carbon Electrocatalyst with an Excellent O 2 Reduction Performance
Author(s) -
Wang Fangxiao,
Ren Jianhai,
Zheng Zihao,
Liu Qiye,
Zhang Chunyang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemistryopen
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 2191-1363
DOI - 10.1002/open.202100090
Subject(s) - calcination , materials science , carbon fibers , electrocatalyst , chemical engineering , limiting current , electrolyte , doping , cyclic voltammetry , nanotechnology , catalysis , chemistry , electrochemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , composite material , composite number , optoelectronics , engineering
Fuel cells have attracted increasing attention due to their low cost, high energy density, low environmental pollution, and abundant raw materials. Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a core technology of fuel cells, and the development of new electrocatalysts with high ORR performance is highly desirable. Herein, we synthesize a series of B, N co‐doped hierarchical porous carbons using a soft template method with the integration of self‐assembly, calcination and etching. The obtained materials exhibit hierarchical porous structures, controllable pore distribution, partial graphite structures, and B, N co‐doping. They can function as the cost‐effective and metal‐free electrocatalysts, facilitating the diffusion of electrolyte ions and the improvement of ORR performance. Especially, the B, N co‐doped porous carbon with the B‐to‐N molar ratio of 5 (BNC‐5) displays a high ORR activity with a half‐wave potential ( E 1/2 ) of 0.73 V, an onset potential ( E onset ) of 0.94 V, and a high limiting current density (J L ) of 5.98 mA cm −2 , superior to the N‐doped C (NC) and BNC‐1 (the B‐to‐N molar ratio=1), BNC‐3 (the B‐to‐N molar ratio=3) and BNC‐7 (the B‐to‐N molar ratio=7) under the identical conditions. Moreover, the BNC‐5 exhibits good cycling stability after 5000 cyclic voltammetry (CV) cycles and excellent tolerance toward even 3 M methanol. This research provides a new approach for the facile synthesis of dual element‐doped carbon electrocatalysts with high ORR performance.