Various advanced catalysts based on sulfur-doped Fe/N/C materials have recently been designed for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR); however, the enhanced activity is still controversial and usually attributed to differences in the surface area, improved conductivity, or uncertain synergistic effects. Herein, a sulfur-doped Fe/N/C catalyst (denoted as Fe/SNC) was obtained by a template-sacrificing method. The incorporated sulfur gives a thiophene-like structure (C-S-C), reduces the electron localization around the Fe centers, improves the interaction with oxygenated species, and therefore facilitates the complete 4 e ORR in acidic solution. Owing to these synergistic effects, the Fe/SNC catalyst exhibits much better ORR activity than the sulfur-free variant (Fe/NC) in 0.5 m H SO .

The low catalytic activity and poor mass transport capacity of platinum group metal free (PGM‐free) catalysts seriously restrict the application of proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Catalysts derived from Fe‐doped ZIF‐8 could in theory be as active as Pt/C thanks to the high intrinsic activity of FeN4; however, the micropores fail to meet rapid mass transfer. Herein, an ordered hierarchical porous structure is introduced into Fe‐doped ZIF‐8 single crystals, which were subsequently carbonized to obtain an FeN4‐doped hierarchical ordered porous carbon (FeN4/HOPC) skeleton. The optimal catalyst FeN4/HOPC‐c‐1000 shows excellent performance with a half‐wave potential of 0.80 V in 0.5 m H2SO4 solution, only 20 mV lower than that of commercial Pt/C (0.82 V). In a real PEMFC, FeN4/HOPC‐c‐1000 exhibits significantly enhanced current density and power density relative to FeN4/C, which does not have an optimized pore structure, implying an efficient utilization of the active sites and enhanced mass transfer to promote the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).

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Various advanced catalysts based on sulfur‐doped Fe/N/C materials have recently been designed for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR); however, the enhanced activity is still controversial and usually attributed to differences in the surface area, improved conductivity, or uncertain synergistic effects. Herein, a sulfur‐doped Fe/N/C catalyst (denoted as Fe/SNC) was obtained by a template‐sacrificing method. The incorporated sulfur gives a thiophene‐like structure (C−S−C), reduces the electron localization around the Fe centers, improves the interaction with oxygenated species, and therefore facilitates the complete 4 e− ORR in acidic solution. Owing to these synergistic effects, the Fe/SNC catalyst exhibits much better ORR activity than the sulfur‐free variant (Fe/NC) in 0.5 m H2SO4.