Developing metal-free, carbon-based catalysts to replace platinum-based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an emerging research area. Recent years many materials have been synthesized, including different carbon structures doped with IIIA-VIIA heteroatoms (C-M site-based, M represents the doped heteroatom) and polynitrogen compounds (PN) encapsulated in CNT (N-N site-based). Compared to metallic catalysts, these materials can be highly active, stable, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly. This talk summarizes development of these materials, their ORR performance and the mechanism for enhancement of the ORR activity with incorporation of the heteroatoms. Some strategies for tailoring the structures of the carbon substrates in order to improve the ORR performance are also discussed. Future studies in this area include optimization of the synthesis strategies for a manageable type, amount and distribution of the heteroatoms incorporated, as well as further understanding the ORR mechanism with this kind of materials as the catalysts.

Metal-free, carbon-based materials as catalysts for PEM fuel cells

250th National Meeting (2015)

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