The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the most important reactions in fuel cell systems. However, the conventional Pt-based catalysts suffer from the agglomeration of Pt particles during long-term operation, resulting in activity degradation, and their high cost and limited global reserves impede the large-scale commercialization of fuel cells. Recently nonprecious metal-based electrocatalysts, such as nitrogen doped carbon (N–C) and metal–nitrogen-doped carbon (M–N–C), therefore, have significantly been interests as an alternative candidate. In order to design the highly efficient N-C and M-N-C ORR catalysts, it is pivotal to fine-tune textural properties of carbon supports such as pore size distribution (especially micropores) and high specific surface area as well as electronic characteristics arising from the pi conjugated graphitic system associated with electron-rich N atoms incorporated in the framework.<br/>In this presentation, various ways to control the porosity (e.g., specific surface area, microporosity, pore size distribution) and polarity (e.g., N-doping and Fe-N-doping) of carbons will be introduced. Monodisperse carbon sphere derived phenolic resin was activated by hot CO<sub>2</sub> treatment to control porosity, in which porosity controlled carbon was employed for Fe-N-C catalysts for ORR. In addition, highly N-doped and porosity controlled carbon spheres derived from melanin polymer was investigated as N-C catalyst for ORR. Furthermore, mesoporous carbons (10 – 40 nm) with controlled porosity were used for Fe-N-C catalysts for ORR. Combined with all of carbons, it will be discussed how structure-properties of such N-C and M-N-C catalysts are related with the ORR performances.<br/>

Design and synthesis of porosity and polarity controlled N-doped and Fe-N-doped carbons for oxygen reduction reaction

256th National Meeting (2018)

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