Electrochemical processes, such as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are of high importance for many energy conversion technologies, including fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and water splitting electrolysers. Although Pt and Pt-based alloys, up to now, are known as the most efficient electrocatalysts for the ORR and HER, the high cost and scarce reserve of Pt seriously hamper its large-scale applications. Great efforts have been dedicated to searching for alternative ORR and HER elelctrocatalysts with low cost, high activity, and long-term stability. Heteroatoms (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, boron, and sulfur)-doped carbon materials can serve as efficient metal-free electrocatalysts for the ORR as the result of their unique electronic properties, which are derived from the heteroatom-induced charge transfer and delocalization. Moreover, incorporation of earth-abundant metal (e.g. Fe, Co) into N-doped carbons can dramatically enhance the electrocatalytic performance, in particular under the acidic conditions. In order to achieve a high electrocatalytic performance in fuel cells and water splitting electrolysers, it is essential to rationally design nanostructures and electronic properties of carbon-based electrocatalysts that can offer large active surface area, fast mass transport and optimal active sites during the electrochemical process.<br/>In this lecture, we will present our recent efforts on the design and synthesis of porous carbon and carbon-rich nanostructures as metal-free and noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for the ORR and HER, particularly including mesoporous N-doped and metal-N-doped carbons prepared by the hard-templating synthesis, graphene integrated doped carbons, porous polymer-derived 2D doped carbons, 2D metal organic framework nanosheets, and 3D graphene-supported nanohybrids. We will highlight the great potential by controlling porous structures and active sites to address the fundamental relationship associated with the carbon-based electrocatalysts.<br/>

Designing porous structures and active sites in carbon-based electrocatalysts

254th National Meeting (2017)

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