Nanoporous graphitic-C 3N 4@carbon metal-free electrocatalysts for highly efficient oxygen reduction

Abstract

Based on theoretical prediction, a g-C 3N 4@carbon metal-free oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst was designed and synthesized by uniform incorporation of g-C 3N 4 into a mesoporous carbon to enhance the electron transfer efficiency of g-C 3N 4. The resulting g-C 3N 4@carbon composite exhibited competitive catalytic activity (11.3 mA cm -2 kinetic-limiting current density at -0.6 V) and superior methanol tolerance compared to a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Furthermore, it demonstrated significantly higher catalytic efficiency (nearly 100% of four-electron ORR process selectivity) than a Pt/C catalyst. The proposed synthesis route is facile and low-cost, providing a feasible method for the development of highly efficient electrocatalysts. © 2011 American Chemical Society.