Factors for active site generation and pore development in fuel cell catalysts formed from glucose/nitrogen source/Fe salts

Abstract

A carbon-based noble-metal-free fuel cell cathode catalyst was formed by heat treatment of a mixture of glucose, Fe gluconate, and 1,4-diamino-2,3- dicyano-9,10-anthraquinone as a nitrogen source. The factors for the formation of the active site and the pore development were the heat-treatment temperature and the content of the nitrogen source in the starting mixture. The activity for oxygen reduction was dependent on the active site and the pore development, which were optimized to form the catalyst with the improved activity compared to those formed from various glucose/nitrogen source/Fe salts mixtures.