Self‐Assembled Fe–N‐Doped Carbon Nanotube Aerogels with Single‐Atom Catalyst Feature as High‐Efficiency Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts

Abstract

Self-assembled M-N-doped carbon nanotube aerogels with single-atom catalyst feature are for the first time reported through one-step hydrothermal route and subsequent facile annealing treatment. By taking advantage of the porous nanostructures, 1D nanotubes as well as single-atom catalyst feature, the resultant Fe-N-doped carbon nanotube aerogels exhibit excellent oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalytic performance even better than commercial Pt/C in alkaline solution.

ZIF‐8 with Ferrocene Encapsulated: A Promising Precursor to Single‐Atom Fe Embedded Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon as Highly Efficient Catalyst for Oxygen Electroreduction

“…N–C shows a relatively higher bulk N mass ratio of 5.83 wt%, than Fe–N–C (4.2 wt%). However, in XPS Fe 2p signal cannot be detected clearly (Figure S3, Supporting Information), probably due to the low Fe concentration on the catalyst surfaces, in consistent with previous publications, and a relatively low bulk mass ratio of 0.91 detected by ICP‐OES . Fe and N content both samples determined using different characterization methods are summarized in Table S1 (Supporting Information).…”

“…Nowadays, one of the most promising candidates to replace PMs as ORR catalyst is single‐atom Fe embedded nitrogen‐doped carbon (Fe–N–C), where FeNx moieties formed by coordination of single‐atom Fe with nitrogen embedded in carbon matrix are regarded as active sites for ORR . However, due to the thermodynamical instability, single‐atom Fe is prone to migration and agglomeration into nanoparticles during pyrolysis, resulting in lower utilization of metal species, decrement of FeN x active site, and thereby poor catalyst performance .…”

Isolated Fe Single Atomic Sites Anchored on Highly Steady Hollow Graphene Nanospheres as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

“…[5,6] In this context, the development of cost-effective, ultrastable, and highefficiency earth-abundant metal catalysts which can substitute PGM is extremely urgent and thereby has stimulated tremendous research interests in renewable energy field. [11,12] In spite of the controversial identifications of active sites for Fe-N x -based carbon catalysts in scientific community, there comes a consensus in catalysis that the reactivity would be remarkably improved by downsizing the catalyst to increase the number of active sites. [11,12] In spite of the controversial identifications of active sites for Fe-N x -based carbon catalysts in scientific community, there comes a consensus in catalysis that the reactivity would be remarkably improved by downsizing the catalyst to increase the number of active sites.…”

Nitrogen and Fluorine‐Codoped Carbon Nanowire Aerogels as Metal‐Free Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

“…Further hydrothermal treatment at 180 8Cf or 15 hr esulted in carbon hydrogels. [15,24] The detailed structure of the NWs in NFCNAs was further characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). By varying the mass ratio between NH 4 Fa nd carbon materials, different aerogels were obtaineda nd denoted as NFCNAs-R-1000 (R = NH 4 F/carbonm aterials mass ratio).…”

“…[18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Theoretically,t he electronegativity difference between heteroatoms and carbon breaks the electroneutrality of adjacent carbon atoms, thus generating charged sites, which have been demonstrated to be favorable for O 2 adsorption and charge transfer in ORR. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Theoretically,t he electronegativity difference between heteroatoms and carbon breaks the electroneutrality of adjacent carbon atoms, thus generating charged sites, which have been demonstrated to be favorable for O 2 adsorption and charge transfer in ORR.…”