Cost-Effective and Facile Preparation of Fe2O3 Nanoparticles Decorated N-Doped Mesoporous Carbon Materials: Transforming Mulberry Leaf into a Highly Active Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reactions

Abstract

Herein, a promising method to prepare efficient N-doped porous carbon-supported Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles (Fe 2 O 3 /N-PCs) ORR electrocatalysts is presented. The porous carbon was derived from a biomass i.e., mulberry leaf through a cost-effective approach. The existence of diverse compounds containing carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur in mulberry leaf benefit the formation and uniform dispersion of Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles (NPs) in the porous carbon. In evaluating the effects of the carbon support on the Fe 2 O 3 NPs towards the ORR, we found that the sample of Fe 2 O 3 /N-PCs-850 (Fe 2 O 3 /N-PCs obtained at 850 • C) with high surface area of 313.8 m 2 ·g −1 exhibits remarkably superior ORR activity than that of materials acquired under other temperatures. To be specific, the onset potential and reduction peak potential of Fe 2 O 3 /N-PCs-850 towards ORR are 0.936 V and 0.776 V (vs. RHE), respectively. The calculated number of electron transfer n for the ORR is 3.9, demonstrating a near four-electron-transfer process. Furthermore, it demonstrates excellent longtime stability and resistance to methanol deactivation compared with Pt/C catalyst. This study provides a novel design of highly active ORR electrocatalysts from low-cost abundant plant products.

Cu‐ and Fe‐Incorporated Manganese Oxides (MnxOy) as Cathodic Catalysts for Hydrogen Peroxide Reduction (HPR) and Oxygen Reduction (OR) in Micro‐direct Methanol Fuel Cells

“…However, the incorporation of Cu and Fe resulted in higher current density than the pristine MnO 2 . Compared to previous research of catalysts containing MnO 2 , CuO, and Fe 2 O 3 compounds, it was found that their long‐term electrochemical stability has improved [174–183] …”

Synthesis of Fe2O3 Nanoparticle-Decorated N-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide as an Effective Catalyst for Zn-Air Batteries

“…[18][19][20][21] However, recent investigations have indicated that iron oxides, which have been neglected for a long time, can exhibit enhanced electrochemical performance. [22][23][24][25][26][27] For example, Li et al reported that α-Fe 2 O 3 /N-doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have superior ORR activity with a lower onset potential of −0.21 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and a more efficient four-electron transfer process. 25 Chen et al fabricated a catalyst composed of Fe-N-doped carbon foam nanosheets in which carbon-coated Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles are embedded.…”