Research Progress on Porous Carbon-Based Non-Precious Metal Electrocatalysts

Abstract

The development of efficient, stable, and economic electrocatalysts are key to the large-scale application of electrochemical energy conversion. Porous carbon-based non-precious metal electrocatalysts are considered to be the most promising materials to replace Pt-based catalysts, which are limited in large-scale applications due to high costs. Because of its high specific surface area and easily regulated structure, a porous carbon matrix is conducive to the dispersion of active sites and mass transfer, showing great potential in electrocatalysis. This review will focus on porous carbon-based non-precious metal electrocatalysts and summarize their new progress, focusing on the synthesis and design of porous carbon matrix, metal-free carbon-based catalysts, non-previous metal monatomic carbon-based catalyst, and non-precious metal nanoparticle carbon-based catalysts. In addition, current challenges and future trends will be discussed for better development of porous carbon-based non-precious metal electrocatalysts.

Polyacrylonitrile‐based porous polymer spheres and their conversion to N‐doped carbon materials for adsorption and electrocatalysis

“…6 Therefore, alternative catalysts, such as nonnoble metal or metal-free catalyst, are necessary. 7,8 Among these alternative catalysts, porous nitrogen-doped carbon materials are emerging. 9 Porous carbon materials can be obtained by carbonization of suited organic polymer-based precursors.…”

“…Nitrogen atoms can be introduced into carbon materials as chemical nitrogen and structural nitrogen. 7,8,24 Both NH x (x: 1-2) and NO x (x: 1-2) can be attributed to chemical nitrogen while pyrrolic N, pyridinic N, and quaternary N belong to structural nitrogen. Chemical nitrogen atoms do not participate in the conjugated π system of graphene/graphite and could be considered as defects in the carbon matrix.…”

Electronic regulation & improved conductivity of molecular catalysts as electrocatalysts

“…Recently, much research in recent years has been focused on metal–nitrogen-doped carbon (M–Nx–C) materials with high activity to investigate the underlying catalysis mechanism due to their clear and conducive structures (M–Nx–C). 12–15 Molecular electrocatalysts with well-defined M–Nx active sites, such as FePc, CoPc, and NiPc, are the primary models for electrocatalysts in studying the structure and activity relationship (SAR). It is widely reported that tuning the electronic structure of the metal in the core of molecular electrocatalysts by altering the structure of the ligand can achieve excellent selectivity for ERCD products.…”

Ruthenium-Anchored Carbon Sphere-Customized Sensor for the Selective Amperometric Detection of Melatonin

“…Thus, the self-aggregation of metal catalysts is prevented, and their stability is improved in the porous carbon matrix [24]. In the past decade, noble metal (Au, Ag, and Pt)-loaded CSs have received extensive research attention owing to its unique morphology and potential as an electrocatalyst [25][26][27][28] in sensor fabrication [26]. Noble metals promote the diffusion of target molecules towards the active metal sites; however, they suffer from the drawbacks of low metal dispersion and metal leaching.…”