Carbon black powders (Vulcan XC72) were doped with a controlled levelof nitrogen by ion-implantation and non-precious metal electrocatalysts were obtainedby derivatizing these materials with transition metals (Fe or Co), enabling therole of metal and nitrogen in electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reductionreaction to be studied in detail. There are many reports discussing theimportance of pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen located at the catalytic site. Controlover implantation parameters allows enrichment of carbons with eitherpredominantly pyridinic or pyrrolic N types. Electrocatalysts for ORR in acidand alkaline media were prepared by dry impregnation of nitrogen implantedcarbon with various Fe-containing salts, based on acetates or sulfates,followed by controlled pyrolysis. A multianalytical approach using XPS for surfacemetal and nitrogen speciation, HREELS for bulk speciation, SEM for morphologyand RDE for electrochemical activity of metal-less and metal-containing sampleswas performed with the goal of discerning the role of both the nitrogen andmetal in the active site for oxygen electroreduction.

Multi-analytical study of nitrogen-implaned carbon black-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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