Meso‐macroporous Carbons Decorated with Ample Nitrogen Sites as Bifunctional Catalysts in CO₂ Catalytic Conversion and Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Abstract

Electrocatalysts are vulnerable for poisoning during the process of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), even the air containing traces of acidic CO2 gas, leading to low activity and durability in fuel cells. Herein, an anti‐CO2 poisoning metal‐free carbon ORR catalysts were derived from fructose and g‐C3N4, along with NaCl as both pore‐forming template and structure protective agent, conducting to a three‐dimensional meso‐macroporous carbon (3D‐NHPC‐x) architecture with large BET surface areas (479∼753 m2/g), ultrahigh nitrogen doping level (14.7 wt %∼16.5 wt %) and high ratios of pyridinic and pyrrolic characteristics. The samples were designated as 3D‐NHPC‐x, and the absorbed CO2 electrocatalyst shows a half‐wave potential of 0.76 V (vs. RHE) in alkaline electrolyte with robust long‐term stability and methanol tolerance, which may provide a facile route of producing high‐performance and anti‐CO2 poisoning ORR catalyst. The 3D‐NHPC‐x can also be employed as efficient catalysts in CO2 capture and catalytic conversion to cyclic carbonate, superior to various materials used in the field. This work develops green and sustainable route for preparation of efficient and anti‐CO2 poisoning hierarchical porous carbon based ORR catalysts.