Anchoring Iron‐EDTA Complex on Graphene toward the Synthesis of Highly Efficient Fe‐N‐C Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalyst for Fuel Cells

Abstract

Developing nonprecious carbon electrocatalysts as alternatives to platinum for cathodic oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells is of significance. Herein, an efficient precursor‐controlled synthesis strategy based on extremely rapid nucleation and deposition process assisted by the liquid nitrogen freeze drying method is explored to anchor cheap iron‐EDTA complex evenly dispersed on graphene to realize microstructural homogeneity of the derived Fe‐N‐C oxygen reduction electrocatalyst. The prepared electrocatalyst possesses excellent performance including high activity with more positive onset and half‐wave potential, such long‐term stability, and anti‐poisoning effect compared to commercial Pt/C. The activity correlates well with the unique sheet‐shaped morphology, high surface area, hierarchical porous structure, and the introduction of Fe‐Nx/C species. Especially, both the assembled practical alkaline and acid fuel cells based on the synthesized cathode catalysts reveal excellent performance with high open‐circuit voltage and power density.

An Active Hybrid Electrocatalyst with Synergized Pyridinic Nitrogen‐Cobalt and Oxygen Vacancies for Bifunctional Oxygen Reduction and Evolution

“…As modern industry desperately needs clean energy to replace the increasingly scarce fossil fuels, researchers are working to develop new renewable energy technologies. [ 1‐3 ] Compared with other energy conversion and storage devices, zinc‐air batteries are widely studied due to their higher theoretical energy density. [ 4‐6 ] The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which are limited by high overpotentials and sluggish kinetics, are two key reactions in zinc‐air batteries.…”

Hydrothermal‐Induced Formation of Well‐Defined Hollow Carbons with Curvature‐Activated N−C Sites for Zn–Air Batteries

“…In addition, the catalytic activity of NHC for the oxygen evolutionr eaction( OER) was tested and is shown in Figure S14, compared with IrO 2 .P redictably,t he metal-free NHC shows poor OER catalytic activity andi sn ot comparable with the best bifunctional catalysts with doped transition metals. [26]…”

Construction and Application of Interfacial Inorganic Nanostructures

“…Distinctly, an efficient catalyst for catalyzing the ORR has high selectivity and activity toward the one‐step four‐electron pathway. [ 110,111 ] Zhang et al . synthesized core/shell Co 2 P/Pt nanorods (NRs) with favorable Co 2 P(001)/Pt(111) interface introduced.…”