Sp2 C-dominant N-doped carbon sub-micrometer spheres with a tunable size: A versatile platform for highly efficient oxygen-reduction catalysts

Abstract

A simple, yet versatile strategy to prepare size-controlled and monodisperse carbon sub-micrometer spheres is developed based on the biomolecule dopamine. Unlike traditional carbon materials, the resulting carbon sub-micrometer spheres contain much less sp3 carbon with high-level electroactive nitrogen. Moreover, metal-carbon hybrid sub-micrometer spheres can be easily obtained, and show highly promising catalytic properties in the oxygen-reduction reaction. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.