Nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets as high efficient catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

It is of great significance in exploring alternative catalysts to platinum (Pt)-based materials for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), because this reaction is invariably involved in various fuel cells and metal-air batteries. We herein reported the nitrogen doped graphene nanosheets (NGNSs) with pore volume of as high as 3.42 m 3/g and investigated their potential application as ORR catalysts, it was demonstrated the NGNSs featured high activity, improved kinetics and excellent long-term stability for ORR. The NGNSs were successfully used as cathode catalysts of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and performed even better than the commercial Pt/C (Pt 10%) catalysts at the maximum power output. © 2012 The Author(s).