Cobalt-nitrogen-doped ordered macro-/mesoporous carbon for highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction
By Sun, Tingting; Xu, Lianbin; Li, Shengyu; Chai, Wenxia; Huang, Yan; Yan, Yushan; Chen, Jianfeng
Published in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
2016
Abstract
Abstract Cobalt-nitrogen-doped three-dimensionally (3D) ordered macro-/mesoporous carbons (Co-N-OMMCs) have been fabricated through a dual-templating synthesis approach in a one-pot controllable procedure by the use of silica colloidal crystal (opal) as a macroporous mold and triblock copolymer Pluronic {F127} as a mesoporous template. The optimal catalyst (Co-N-OMMC-0.6) exhibits comparable catalytic activity but much higher durability and tolerance of methanol in comparison with the commercial 20 wt% Pt/C catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an alkaline medium. The remarkable {ORR} electrocatalytic performance of the Co-N-OMMC-0.6 is ascribed to the homogeneous distribution of abundant Co-Nx active sites, as well as the large surface area and efficient mass/charge transport from the unique structure combining well-ordered bicontinuous mesopores with 3D interconnected periodic macropores.